
Glass _. 
Book_. 




CHAS, H, LDTHRDP, 



SURGEON. 



^^ H^ISTOP^Y 



First fjegioieiit Iowd Coifoliy 



VETERAN VOLUNTEERS, 



Fk<»M Jl'S ()l{<iANIZATI(>N IN 1861 TO ItS MlSTEK OlT <»K THE 

Unitk.!> States Service in 1866. 



ALSO. 



A COMPLETE ROSTER OE THE REGIMENT. 



B\ CHAKLES H. LOTPIKOP. M. D., 



^^%^ 



a^Sl 



LYONS. IOWA. 

KKKI{S ,V KATON. PKINTEKS. MIHH()K OFFICE. 

1890. 



ANNOUNCEMENT, 



Headquakteks First Iowa Cavalry Asscjciation, 
Cedar Rapids. Iowa, Augist 10th, 1890. 

"~ At a meeting' of the Association held at Cedar Rapids Septeml)ei- 23d, 

1886. the following- resolution was offered and adopted by a rising- vote: 

•■ Resolvt'd. That the most heai-ty thanks of the Association are due 
and are hereby tendered to Dr. (^has. H. Lothrop. for his most diligent 
efforts and g-ood services in thus far collecting- matei-ial for and compil- 
ing- the history of the Regiment, and that he be encouraged and assisted 
by all means within our power in his good work, and that he l)e and 
is appointed Regimental Historian.'" 

The Association at the reunion at Ottumwa, aftei- listening- to the 
report of Surgeon liOthrop, appointed him chairman of a connnittee to 
publish the history of the Reg-iment. a work upon which he had spent 
so niuch labor. Upon the death of Surgeon Lothrop. the work was 
taken uji and completed by his beloved wife, Virg-inia Lothrop. We 
cannot command languag-e to express our gratitude to this noble 
woman : and while we, on behalf of the Association, extend to her the 
thanks of the veterans who once comi)()sed the Urst Iowa Cavalry, we 
assure her that she will always be remembered by the • • boys" the 
j Doctor loved so well and in whose interest he always laboi-ed, 

H. S. HEB?:RLIN(;, Pnsidait. 
Phil, H. Francis, Seo'dary. 



GENERAL PREFACE. 



NEARLY THIRTY YEARS have come and gone since the First 
Regiment Iowa Cavalry Vohinteers engaged in the suppression 
of the most gigantic and unholy rebellion that ever crushed any nation 
on the earth. The part it took in its suppression will ever occupy one 
of the brightest pages of our country's history of that unholy strife 
from 1861 to 1865. 

The members of the organization were composed of young men. etc. 
Nothing omitted, etc. 

He sends it forth commending it with his kindest wishes to those who 
bore the brunt of battle, march, fatigue, etc., with him, and whose 
friendship he will ever cherish. 

The members of the First Iowa Cavalry Veteran Volunteers. 

Assistance of wife. 



Here my beloved husband a'nd your dear comrade laid down his i)en. 
;ind I m:iy truthfully say his life, in the service of those comrades he 
loved so well. 

For six years he labored almost con.-tantly in his endeavors to collect 
material, s])aring no expense, and in his zeal overtaxing his strength. 
He completed the manuscript — with the exception of Detached Service 
R'])orts, Personal Sketches, Promotions, Preface, etc., — so as to be able 



VI GENERAL PREFACE. 

to present the result of his labors to his comrades at Milwaukee and 
Ottumwa, and looked forward to these -Reunions"" with much pleasure 
and pride. He felt that he had done well, and few have any conception 
of how difficult and laborious the work was that had been assigned to 
him as Historian of the Reg-iment. 

His disappointment in not being able to meet you at Ottumwa was 
great and keen, for he yearned wath the anticipation of full joy to clasp 
the hands of his old comrades. The action taken by the Association, 
however, cheered and encouraged him, and as soon as he was able to 
dictate he issued a call to the committee appointed to make some ar- 
rangement to meet, asking them to be his guests, and was again 'happy 
in anticipation. 

Only one of them, Judge Stutsman, paid it the slightest attention. 
He waited six weeks, or longer, and issued another call. All replied 
save Captain Dilley. 

The replies reminded us forcibly of the feast we read of in Holy Writ : 
"And they all with one accord' began to make excuse.'" It was too 
much for his deeply sensitive nature, in his enfeebled condition, to 
bear — this non-appreciation of his laho)- of love — and he died. 

Unknown to him, 1 had added a postscript to his first call : -Beg- 
ging them to make some speedy arrangement, as his anxiety was 
retarding his recovery."' I was begging for his life. He then 
wrote to President Heberling, who immediately responded, and came 
out from Chicago. When he arrived the Doctor was already very ill ; 
but he explained everything to President Heberling, interviewed the 
publisher, etc. 

President Hebei-ling left with the intention of returning in ten days 
with Secretary Francis. After he left the Doctor was perfectly content 
and said, •' It is all right— now the 'boys' will have the History."" 

President Heberling and Secretary Francis came on the -1th of Feb- 
ruary, but he could not speak to them; his heart was too full. "^J^^^ash 
of joy passed over his countenance and he held out both his hand^ 
them. Two days after he entered into rest : ■ • Victor over Death and 
pain." 



GENERAL PREFACE. VD 

You have the History : I feel that it has been bought with a price. 

Had he lived, there were corrections and additions to be made. Had 
he lived, it is hardly possible there should have been no mistakes in 
such a work, and with him passed away all knowledge of many of the 
corrections that should have been made. 

Many will be disappointed in the work, expecting more personal 
mention. To name them all would be impossible, and where there 
were so many brave, to omit any would be invidious. 

He wrote the History of the Regiment. 

Vei-y sincerely, 

* VIRGINIA LOTHROP. 

Lyons. Iowa. August 15th. 1890. 



'T 



ACKNOWLEDGMENT 



I 



T is with pleasure that I acknowledge valuable and kindly assist- 
ance from the following' named gentlemen : 



Field and Staff. 
Colonel William Thompson. 

Lieutenant Colonel Charles E. Moss, (now deceased.) 
Lieutenant Colonel Alexander G. McQueen. 
Surgeon Milton B. Cochran. 
Assistant Surgeon David B. Allen. 
First Lieutenant and Adjutant David A. Kerr. 
Commissary Sergeant Lucius B. Manwaring. 

Coynpany A. 
Sergeant Thomas Reynolds. 

Company B. 
Captain S. S. Burdett. 
Second Lieutenant Hiram .S. Heberling. 
Private Isaac Rhodes. 
Private Ezra J. Smith. 
Private Philip H. Francis. 

Company C. 
Sergeant George VanBeek. 

Company D. 
Corporal William M. Wilson. 

Company E. 

Sergeant Alexander A. Wildasin. 

Private John R. Martin. 

Private E. M. Stapleton. 

Private Clementine M. Bii'd. 
2 



X ACKNOWLEDGMENT. 

Company F. 
First Lieutenant Charles W. W. Dow. 

Company G. 
Captain Albert W. Hosford. 

Com.pa7iy H. 
First Lieutenant Samuel T. Craig. 

Com2Jany I. 
First Lieutenant Joseph H. Springer. 

Com,pany K. 
Captain Robert L. Freeman. 
Captain Thomas H. Barnes. 
Captain James M. Russell. 
Second Lieutenant Albert L. Freeman. 
Sergeant James A. Lyons. 
Sergeant Frank Pease. 
Private John L. Haworth. 

Company L. 
First Lieutenant James M. Simeral. 
Second Lieutenant John M. Enochs. 
Sergeant Horace J. Leonard. 
Sergeant Charles E. Miller. 
Private Charles A. Chase. 

Co7npany M. 
First Lieutenant Edwin A. Dvmham. 
Bugler Thomas E. Francis. 
Private W. H. Rigby. 

To R. J. Holcomb, of Nevada, Missouri, late a member of the Tenth 
Missouri Infantry Volunteers, and to W. C. Roland, of (Jarthage, Mis- 
souri, late Captain Company H, Eighteenth Regiment Iowa Infantry 
Volunteers. 



!l 



H I S T O RIY 



First Iowa GDVHlry Yeternii Volunteers. 



1861-62. 

FOR A PERIOD of more than forty years the principles of 
nullification, State sovereignty and disunion, with the 
flattering sentiment of Southern supremacy, had been instilled 
into the minds of the people of the southern portion of this 
republic by their dishonest and unscrupulous leaders, until rule 
or ruin had become the dominant idea of these misguided peo- 
ple, and treason, the legitimate offspring of such teaching, had 
l^ecome so developed that it culminated in an onslaught upon 
the nation's existence in an attack upon Fort Sumter, April 
12th, 1861. 

This treason Avas developing, and had increased to such an 
extent, that in 1854 that renowned scholar and poet, All)ert 
Pike, of Arkansas, (who with sorrow be it said afterward es- 
poused the cause of the so-called Southern Confederacy,) with 
l)rophetic ken saw the inevitable in the course pursued, and 
warned his people of the disastrous result in the following terse 
and emphatic language : 



14 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

' ' Aye, shout ! 'Tis the day of your pride. 

Ye despots and tyrants of earth ! 
Tell your serfs the American name to deride. 

And to rattle their fetters in mirth. 
Ay, shout ! for the League of the Free 

Is about to be shivered to dust, 
And the rent limbs to fall from the vigorous tree. 

Wherein liberty put her firm trust. 
Shout ! shout ! for more firmly established will be 
Your thrones and dominions beyond the blue sea. 

' ' Laugh on ! for such folly supreme 

The world has never yet beheld. 
And ages to come will the history deem 

A tale by antiquity swelled ; 
For nothing that Time has upbuilt 

And set in the annals of ci'ime. 
So stupid and senseless, so wretched in guilt. 

Darkens sober tradition or rhyme. 
It will be, like the fable of Eblis' fall. 
A by-word of mocking and horror to all. 

" Ye mad, who would ''rase out your name 

From the League of the Proud and the Free, 
And a pitiful, separate sovereignty claim. 

Like a line wave flung off from the sea ; 
Oh, pause ere you plunge in the chasm 

That yawns in your treacherous way ! 
Ere Freedom, convulsed with one terrible spasm. 

Desert you for ever and aye ! 
Pause ! think ! ere the earthquake astonish your soul. 
And the thunders of war thro' your green valleys roll ! 

' ' Good God ! what a title, what name 

Will history give to your crime ? 
In the deepest abyss of dishonor and shame 

Ye will writhe till the last hour of time. 
As braggarts who forged their own chains. 

Pulled down what their brave fathers built. 
And tainted the blood in their children's young veins 

With the poison of slavery and guilt ; 
And Freedom's bright heart be hereafter, tenfold, 
For your folly and fall, more discouraged and cold. 

■ • What flag shall float over the fires 
And smoke of your fratricide war. 



HISTORY or FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 15 

Instead of the stars and broad stripes of your sires ? 
A lone, pale, flickering star, 

With a thunder-cloud veiling its glow- 
As it faints away into the sea : 

Will the Eagle's wing shelter and shield you ? Ah, no ! 
His wing shelters only the free. 

Miscall it, disguise it, boast, cant as you will. 

You are traitors, misled by your mad leaders still. 

' ' Turn, turn then ! Cast down in your might 

The pilots that sit at the helm ! 
Steer, steer your proud ship from the gulf which dark night 

And treason and fear overwhelm ! 
Turn back !— from your mountains and glens. 

From your swamps, from the rivers and sea. 
From forest and precipice, cavern and den. 

Where yovir brave fathers bled to be free. 
From the graves where those glorious patriots lie 
Re-echoes the warning, ■ Turn back, or ye die ! '' " 

But the monster w^ould not down. In 1856, Charles Sum- 
ner, a Senator from Massachusetts, was struck down })y a 
Southern ruffian in the Senate chamlier of the United States, 
for daring to give utterance to opinions hostile to the Southern 
slaveholding oligarchy. 

In 1859 the institution of slavery was shaken to its very 
foundation by a handful of men led by that apostle of freedom, 
John Brown, and from that day, December 2d, 1859, when he 
expiated upon the gallows his unlawful attempt of insurrec- 
tion, slavery could not have been more dead than it was at the 
end of the slaveholders' rebellion. 

In 186(» the late Judge Shepley, of Maine, a delegate to the 
National Democratic Convention, stung to the quick by the 
arrogant attitude of the South, quoted in his s})eech before the 
Convention, after casting the unanimous vote of his delegation 
for the hvte Stephen A. Douglas for President, the following 
lines from the old Scottish bard : 

•• There are hills beyond Pentland, and land beyond Forth ; 
If there's lords in the Southland, there's chiefs in the North." 



16 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

This attitude of the South attracted the attention of not onl}^ 
the North, but the whole civilized world was waiting to know 
if in its extreme fear, folly and desperation, it would initiate a 
fratricidal war in order to perpetuate a most fearful crime 
against liberty and humanity. "Whom the gods wish to de- 
stroy they first make mad.'' Heretofore confined to wordy, in- 
solent speeches and ignoble resolutions, these people proceeded 
to overt rebellion by assaulting the flag of our country, April 
12th, 1861. That day the traitor guns of South Carolina were 
turned upon Fort Sumter in the harbor of Charleston. After 
making a heroic defense, and with a parting salute to the old 
flag, a little band of United States soldiers commanded by 
Major Robert Anderson, constituting its garrison, surrendered 
to the traitor hordes of South Carolina. 

The telegraph announced the fact as soon as the act was per- 
petrated, and the entire population of the loyal North with 
stern determination resolved to punish this liigh-handed out- 
rage. Civil war was inaugurated, and the beginning of a sor- 
roAv which was al)out to enter almost every household of this 
great and prosperous republic, and leave within its portals, 
tears, heart-sobs, suffering, disease and death for years to come, 
was present with us. It was the beginning of a sorrow the 
vastness of which could not l>e comprehended, for the reason 
that history in all the revolving years of time does not furnish 
a parallel. 

At this trying time President Lincoln issued a proclamation 
to the Governors of the several States, calhng for 75,000 men 
to rally for the defense of home, liberty, and an undivided 
country. There came a most magnificent and holy res})onse 
from every city and hamlet in the North. All the peaceful 
avocations of life were essentially abandoned, and men of all 
conditions and circumstances, and loyal women too, with liurst- 
ing hearts and ])rimful e^'es, made immediate response to the 
wailing cry of the imperilled republic. The response of the 
then young State of Iowa was grand, magnificent. She was in 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 17 

the front ranks — a position she ever after maintained during 
this long and eventful struggle for national existence. Her 
soldiers were found upon almost every battle field and among 
the ' ' bravest of the brave. ' ' Her fair women, with throb- 
bing, bursting hearts, but with a liraveiy, devotion and self sac- 
rifice exceeding that of the men, sent their husl)ands, sons, 
fathers, brothers and loved ones to the front, bidding them to 
be true and faithful to home, country and God. While I 
speak thus of the patriotism of the people of Iowa, far be it 
from me to cast any reflections, in the slightest degree, upon 
the people of the other States of the loyal North. Every State 
was intent upon the preservation of the Union, and the out- 
bursts of a free people in the defense of liberty were supremely 
grand. It was from such patriotism, from such devotif)n to 
country, that Freedom drew her inspiration : 

" When from her mountain height 

She unfurled her standard to the air. 
vShe tore tlie azure robe of night 
And set the stars of glory there." 

On April 16th our old War Governor, Samuel J. Kirkwood, 
received the following telegram from Simon Cameron, Secre- 
tary of War : *• •• Call made on you by to-night' s mail for one 
reg-iment of militia for immediate service;" and on the 17th 

CI 

Governor Kirkwood issued his proclamation for one regiment 
of volunteer infantry. So prompt was the response that on 
the first day of May the regiment was in rendezvous at Keokuk 
waiting for arms. Companies had been rapil}' formed in almost 
all parts of the State, and there was bitter disappointment ex- 
pressed when, upon making application to become a portion of 
it, they were informed that but one regiment had been called 
for and it was now complete. Notwithstanding this disappoint- 
ment on the part of the citizens, the organization of companies 
continued. The attack upon Fort Sumter had aroused the 
martial spirit of the people to a ^vhite heat, and Iowa l)ecame 
one vast rendezvous for citizen soldiery. 



18 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

In the meantime the rebellion had assumed more formidable 
proportions, and on May 3d, 1861, another proclamation was 
issued by President Lincoln calling for "forty-two thousand 
and thirty-four volunteers, to serve for a period of three years 
unless sooner discharged, and to be mustered into the service as 
infantry and cavalry. ' ' This proclamation was the first call for 
troops for three years' service, and under it the First Cavalry 
was organized. Prior to this time several cavalry companies 
had been organized, and the men composing them were from a 
lar^e section of the State : from Allamakee and Winneshiek in 
the north to Lee and Decatur counties in the south. These 
several companies, (ten companies at that time being the re- 
quired number to constitute a cavalry regiment,) were accepted 
by the State June 13th, 1861, and ordered into quarters by Gov- 
ernor Kirkwood July 18th, 1861. A few of the companies had 
been in quarters prior to this time : notably one company at 
Lyons, afterward Company B, went into quarters May 1st; 
one company at Ottumwa, afterward Company I, went into 
quarters May 6th ; one company at McGregor, afterward 
Company K, May 15th ; and one company at Iowa City, after- 
ward Company F, was organized April 15th, but the date of 
going into quarters, before ordered by the Governor, is not 
known. 

A short history of the organization of these companies will 
not be here inappropriate. 

Company A. 

Company A was enrolled in the county of Lee and organized 
at Keokuk. 

In the spring of 1861 Captain A. G. McQueen, afterward 
Lieutenant Colonel, commenced the organization of a cavalry 
company. It was soon organized, and at the request of Cap- 
tain McQueen. W. M. G. Torrence, afterward Major of the 
regiment and Colonel of the Thirtieth Iowa Infantry, was 
selected as Captain. At the election of officers Torrence was 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 19 

elected Captain ; Charles E. Moss, afterward Lieutenant Colo- 
nel, First, and R. M. Reynolds, afterward Captain of the com- 
pany, Second Lieutenants. While Captain, McQueen preferred 
to be a " high private' ' in the rear rank. Upon the acceptance 
of the regiment by the State the company very suddenly be- 
came reduced to a ' ' skeleton. " In a short time, however, 
through the energetic efforts of Captain Torrence, McQueen 
and D. A. Kerr, afterward Adjutant, and severely wounded in 
an engagement with QuantrelPs guerillas, near Pleasant Hill, 
Missouri, the depleted ranks were filled. At this time Mc- 
Queen was elected First Lieutenant. Some few had again been 
' ' taken sick' ' and their places filled by new recruits. The 
company was finally organized with W. M. G. Torrence Cap- 
tain, A. G. McQueen First and R. M. Reynolds Second Lieu- 
tenants. 

The men comprising the company were principally from Lee, 
Van Buren and Decatur counties, while a few were from Han- 
cock county, Illinois. It went into quarters June 13th, and in 
obedience to orders from the Governor it left July 27th for its 
rendezvous at Burlington, on which occasion '•'■the citizens of 
Keokuk turned out to bid the company good-bye. The City 
Rifies, under Captain W. W. Belknap, and the Keokuk Cav- 
alry, under Captain Sample, as escort, marched up to the cor- 
ner of Main and Fourth streets, where Company A was in line. 
On behalf of the ladies of Keokuk, Hon. Samuel F. Miller pre- 
sented a flag to the company, on receiving which Captain Tor- 
rence replied : ' We thank the ladies for this beautiful flag, 
and we will defend it to the last, and when it shall he trailed in 
the dust my wife will ))e a widow and ni}- children orphans.' 
Escorted by the City Rifles and Sample's Cavalry, the line of 
march was down Main street to Second, and then out on the 
Montrose road, to Burlington. They camped that night at 
Denmark, where they remained over Sunday, and on Monday 
morning reached Burlington," (July 29th,) and were mustered 
into the United States service July 30th, 1861. 



20 history of first iowa cavalry. 

Company B. 
The "Hawkeye Rangeks." 

In the early spring of 1861 Judge William E. Leffingwell 
commenced the organization of a company at Lyons. A nu- 
cleus of a company was also formed at De Witt in the early 
days of April, meeting at the law office of Samuel S. Burdett, 
a young attorney of that place. About the 1st day of May 
members of this De Witt contingent visited Lyons for the pur- 
pose of uniting with the Lyons company and forming a perma- 
nent organization. The organization was perfected, to which 
the name of "Hawkeye Rangers" w^as given, with Judge Wil- 
liam E. Leffingwell as Captain ; Samuel S. Burdett, after- 
ward Captain of the company, First, and Charles M. Baldwin 
Second Lieutenants Soon afterward, however, Baldwin be- 
came ' ' sick' ' and ' ' dropped out. ' ' William H. DeFreest was 
elected to fill the vacancy. 

The members of this company were principally from Clinton 
and Jackson counties, a few from Morrison, Illinois, and other 
few from the State of Wisconsin. They Avere all hardy, robust 
young men. The Adjutant General's report shows that not a 
man was rejected by the mustering officer when this company 
was mustered into the United States service. A few of the 
members were in quarters as early as the first of May, 1861. 
The company went into quarters in the brick block on the south 
side of Main street, near the corner of Second street, and the 
drill in the ' ' school of the trooper' ' became regular. On the' 
24th of July, orders having been previously received from Gov- 
ernor Kirkwood to rendezvous at Burlinoion, our ' ' Rangers' ' 
were marched to the public square, and amidst a large con- 
course of citizens a very handsome standard of blue silk, 
trimmed with red and white silk fringe, was presented to the 
company by the ladies of Lyons — Lyman A. Ellis, Esq., mak- 
ing the presentation speech, which was responded to by First 
Lieutenant S. S. Burdett and Judge W. E. Leffingwell, Cap- 
tain of the company. On one side of the standard were thirty- 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 21 

four gold stars, with the word Hawk and representation of an 
eye, followed by the word Rangers, indicating the name of the 
company, ^'Hawkeye Rangers." On the reverse were thirty- 
four gold stars, with the representation of a hawk, on an ob- 
long gromid work, with the inscription, " We will meet you 
on the Border. ' ' After the speeches of presentation and re- 
sponses the Rangers were dismissed, and the excited citizens, 
dispersing into small groups, discussed the disastrous results of 
the war ' ' within the last few days. ' ' The standard was care- 
fully preserved by Captain Leffingwell until he left the service; 
he then gave it to Isaac Rhodes, now of De Witt, Iowa, a mem- 
}:>er of the company, who now has it in his possession. On 
Thursday morning, July 25th, the De Witt portion of the com- 
mand having arrived the day before, the Rangers left Lyons 
amid the cheering of the citizens for their rendezvous at Bur- 
lington, reaching De Witt on the evening of the same day, 
where they received an ovation. They left the next morning 
and arrived at Muscatine at ten o'clock that night. Stopping 
at Wapello on the night of the 27th, they reached Burlington 
about five o'clock p. m. on the 28th. They were mustered into 
the United States service on the 31st of July. 

The following in reference to this company is from the Lyons 
City Advocate, July 27th, 1861 : 

Captain Leffingwell, having succeeded in getting his men equipped, 
and all furnished with horses, left here on Thursday morning last for 
Burlington, where the regiment of cavalry are to rendezvous and be 
mustered into the service of the United States previous to starting for 
Washington. It is a task of no small magnitude for a man to raise and 
procure equipments for a company, without the aid of either the State 
or the general Government, but this has been accomplished by Captain 
Leffingwell, and he has the Jirst ftdl company of equijjped cavalry in 
the State, numbering ninety-eight strong and hardy men including 
officers. 

Our young ladies, never idle in times like these, had collected the 
means and purchased a beautiful flag, which was presented to the Ran- 
gers on Thursday evening last on the public square, in the presence of 
a large number of our citizens. Rev. Kynett had been selected by the 



22 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

ladies to make the presentation, but being- called away. L. A. Ellis. Esq. . 
took his place, and upon the Rangers being drawn up in line made a 
very handsome speech. He spoke of the loyalty of all the citizens of 
the North to the Government, of their desire to sustain it as it had 
been handed down to them, and above all of their cherished love for 
the stars and stripes, the flag of the country. He spoke about fifteen 
minutes, when he closed and passed over the beautiful banner to the 
company. 

First Lieutenant Burdett received the flag in behalf of the company, 
and replied to Mr. Ellis in a short but neat and appropriate speech. 
(We expected to have published the speeches, but failed to get them in 
time for this issue.) 

The remarks were listened to by the large crowd of spectators with 
much interest and attention, and upon their close the flag was passed 
over to the standard bearer of the company, three cheers given for the 
Rangers and three for their officers. The Rangers replied by three 
cheers for the young ladies of Lyons, and six more for her citizens. In 
passing over the flag Captain Leffingwell affirmed by the uplifted hand, 
and called upon his men, each one of whom did the same, that entrusted 
to them it should never be disgraced or surrendered. 

The flag is made of blue silk, bound around with red and white 
fringe. Thirty-four gilt stars are upon either side of it. ' One side 
bears the name of the company with a large painted eye instead of the 
word, and on the other a beautiful hawk is painted bearing in his tal- 
ons the motto of the company. "We will meet you on the Border." It 
was tastily mounted, and we have no doubt is highly prized by the 
whole company. 

The company then marched to their quarters to spend their last 
night in our city and prepare for an early start in the morning and 
their departure for Burlington. 

At an early hour on Thursday morning the bugle sounded the assem- 
bly, and in a very short time the barracks were astir with the prepara- 
tions for departure. Our citizens, also, congregated en masse to see 
them off. The baggage wagon was packed and started, and at eight 
o'clock the company mounted and took up their line of march for Bui'- 
lington, where they are ordered to rendezvous on Monday next at nine 
o'clock A. M. The Fulton brass band headed the column and accompa- 
nied them some distance from the city. There was but one attempt at 
cheering that we heard upon their departure, the feelings of the people 
being entirely too much wrought up to indulge in a hearty cheer. 
Fathers, mothei's, brothers, sisters, wives and children were looking, 
perhaps for the last time, upon the manly forms passing before them, 
and sympathy for them and for the soldiers was plainly written upon 
every countenance. With the disastrous results of the last few days in 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 23 

full recollection, all felt that the going forth to war was no trifling 
matter, and none could help feeling and fearing that many passing be- 
fore them then would never return to their homes and friends ; but that 
it might be otherwise we have no doubt rpany a spontaneous and ear- 
nest prayer ascended to the throne of grace as they passed out of sight 
down Sixth street to take the road for De Witt. 

Thus is another hundred stout hands and brave hearts added to the 
defense of the country, and we take occasion to predict here that if that 
company meet the enemies of the Constitution and the Union upon 
the field of battle, such enemies will have cause to remember the 
Hawkeye Rangers, of Lyons, low a. They are as sturdy a set of men 
as ever vaulted into a saddle, and not one of them, in our opinion, will 
ever show the white feather to an enemy, and if they do it will not be 
by the knowledge or consent of their commander. Brave almost to a 
fault, he has encountered every discoviragement in the getting up of 
his company with a determination that has borne down every obstacle, 
until on Thursday morning last he marched forth at the head of as well 
an appointed company as there is in the volunteer service. Our citi- 
zens are justly pi-ovid of the company and its commander, and parted 
with them with real heartfelt regrets. At De Witt they were to be 
treated to a public dinner Thursday afternoon, which would imdoubt- 
edly be enjoyed after a twenty mile ride on horseback. 

Previous to starting a large number of towels and other necessaries, 
the proceeds of a picnic last week, were distributed among the men. 

Company C. 
Company C was enrolled in the counties of Des Moines, 
Lonisa and Lee, and organized at Burlington and went into 
(juarters, by order of Governor Kirkwood, June 13th, 1861, 
with Levi Chase, afterward Major, as Captain ; Benjamin Ra- 
ney First and Albert F. Dean Second Lieutenants. W. E. 
('haml)erlain, afterward Major, was the leading spirit in the 
formation of this company. ''It was largely made up of 
young men from eighteen to twenty-five years of age." It 
was mustered into the United States service July 31st, 1861. 
No further information as to the formation of this company has 
been received. 

Company D. 
Com pan}- 1) was enrolled in the counties of Warren and 
Madison, and organized with P. Gad Bryan as Captain, after- 



24 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

ward Major and Lieutenant Colonel ; James D. Jenks, after- 
ward Captain and Major, First Lieutenant, and William R. 
Shiver Second Lieutenant, afterward First Lieutenant. The 
company went into quarters June 13tli, and was mustered into 
the United States service July 31st, 1861. No further infor- 
mation as to the formation of this company has been received. 

Company E. 
Company E was enrolled in Henry county, and organized at 
Mt. Pleasant, with William Thompson as Captain, afterward 
Major and Colonel ; William P. McClure First Lieutenant, and 
Thomas Bereman Second Lieutenant, afterward Captain and 
Major. Captain Thompson was the leading spirit in the organ- 
ization of this company. It went into quarters June 13th, and 
was mustered into the United States service July 31st, 1861. 
No further information as to the formation of this company has 
been received. 

Company F. 
The ' ' Iowa City Cavalry Company' ' was enrolled princi- 
pally in the counties of Johnson and Washington, and organ- 
ized at Iowa City, with James O. Gower as Captain, afterward 
Major and Colonel ; J. R. Elliott First and P. E. Shaver Sec- 
ond Lieutenants. The following history as to the organization 
has been furnished by Surgeon M. B. Cochran: ''On the 
28th of March, 1861, a meeting was held in Mendenhall's hall, 
Iowa City, to take measures to organize a company of cavalry. 
The meeting adjourned tt) the 15th of Apiil, when another 
meeting was held in Market hall. Thirty-five names were en- 
rolled and an organization was completed. J. O. Gower was 
chosen Captain, J. W. Porter First Lieutenant, John Borland 
Second Lieutenant, and J. R. Elliott Orderly Sergeant. The 
company met for drill regularly from that time until it was 
ordered into quarters by the Governor. Some of the original 
memliers left the compan}-, and many other names were added 
to the roll, and a reorganization was efl'ected ])efore tintd muster 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 25 

into the United States service. J. R, Elliott was chosen First 
and P. E. Shaver Second Lieutenants." On the 1st day of 
August it was mustered into the United States service. The 
muster roll of the company for the month of August, 1861, 
shows that the company left Iowa City July 27th, and marched 
for Camp Warren, Burlington, a distance of eighty miles, ar- 
riAdng at Camp Warren July 29th, at nine a. m., '•'•in accord- 
ance with the orders of the Governor of the State of Iowa. ' ' 

Company G, 

The "Hardin Rangers," 
Was enrolled principally in the counties of Hardin, Dubuque, 
Blackhawk, Jones and Delaware, and organized at Eldora, with 
James D. Thompson Captain, H. H. Heath First and E. S. 
Foster Second Lieutenants. The following history of the or- 
ganization is taken from Surgeon Cochran's historical sketch of 
the regiment : ' ' After the fall of Fort Sumter a meeting was 
held at Eldora, and it was there decided to raise and mount a 
company of cavalry, to be known as the Hardin Rangers, and 
tender their services to the Government. J. D. Thompson was 
elected Captain, J. Edgington and L. E. Campbell First and 
Second Lieutenants, and E. S. Foster Orderly Sergeant. There 
was no trouble in securing men, but it was not so easy to pro- 
cure horses. Each man had to furnish his own horse, and, as 
many of the men were not able to do this, a large number 
recruited for the Rangers left the company and joined the 
infantry. 

' ' The nucleus of a company had been formed in Dubuque by 
H. H. Heath, and Captain Thompson proceeded to that place 
to arrange for a consolidation, which resulted in the organiza- 
tion of Company G, with J. D. Thompson as Captain, H. H. 
Heath as First Lieutenant, L. E. Campbell as Second Lieuten- 
ant, and J. M. Simeral Orderly Sergeant. About that time a 
call was made for a regiment of cavalry from Iowa. Informa- 
tion was received from Washington that the Government would 

furnish horses to all who could not suppl}' themselves, and the 
4 



26 HISTOEY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

company was rapidly filled. The Hardin county portion of the 
company moved to Burlington via Ottumwa, and at Eddyville 
joined Company H, while the Dubuque portion moved l)y boat 
to Burlington. Lieutenant Campbell did not respond when 
the order came to move, and E. S. Foster was chosen Second 
Lieutenant on arriving at Burlington. "" It went into quarters 
June 13th, and was mustered into the United States service 
August 1st, 1861. 

Company H. 
Company H was enrolled in the counties of Monroe and Lu- 
cas, and organized at Albia, with Daniel Anderson as Captain, 
afterward Major, Lieutenant Colonel and Colonel ; Riley West- 
cott First Lieutenant, afterward Captain ; and William S. 
Whisenand Second Lieutenant, afterward Captain and Major. 
It went into quarters June 13th, and was mustered into the 
United States service August 5th, 1861. No further informa- 
tion as to the organization of this company has been received. 

Company I. 
Company I was enrolled in the counties of Wapello and Keo- 
kuk, (a few were from Hancock county, Illinois,) and organ- 
ized at Ottumwa, with J. W. Caldwell as Captain, afterward 
Major and Lieutenant Colonel ; Dr. David C. Dinsmore First 
Lieutenant, afterward Captain ; and W. H. Kitterman Second 
Lieutenant. The following history of the organization of the 
company is furnished by Lieutenant Joseph H. Springer : "A 
short time after the Second Infantry took the field, M. A. 
Brown and Edward F. Lewis, both of Ottumwa, commenced 
recruiting a company. When the call came for a cavalry regi- 
ment it was decided that this company should join it. But be- 
fore we were ordered into quarters Mr. Brown for some reason 
unknown to the writer withdrew, and J. W. Caldwell succeeded 
him and continued the recruiting. The company was enrolled 
to the number of seventy-three men. After arriving at Bur- 
lington seven men from Hancock county, Illinois, joined the 



HISTORY OP FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 27 

company. While in camp at Burlington the number was in- 
creased to one hundred and three men rank and file.-'' The 
company went into quarters May 3d, and was mustered into 
the United States service August 3d, 1861. Edward F. Lewis 
was rejected because of diseased eyes, and John J. Adams be- 
cause of over age. 

Company K, 
The "Union Rangees," 
Was enrolled in the county of Clayton, a portion coming from 
Allamakee and Winneshiek counties. It was organized at Mc- 
Gregor, with Robert L. Freeman as Captain ; Dr. Thomas H. 
Barnes, afterward Captain, First, and Albert L. Freeman Sec- 
ond Lieutenants. Captain Freeman was a soldier in the Mexi- 
can war, and it was chiefly through his persevering efforts that 
the company was organized. It went into quarters May 15th, 
1861. The following history of the organization of the com- 
pany, by Captain Freeman, will be read with interest : 

"In the spring of 1861 the great question of the day was, 
freedom or slavery ; the dissolution of the Union and separation 
of the South from the North ; even war was freely and openly 
discussed ; l)ut no one really believed that we would l3e plunged 
into a struggle that would endanger the existence of the best 
government on earth. When lo ! the first guns from Fort 
Sumter, as they reverberated over this broad land, could not 
have created more astonishment than the morning sun as it 
broke over the world for the first time, and admonished us that 
war, actual war, was upon us with all its horrors. 

'^The writer of this epistle was quietly and methodically pur- 
suing his way in order to hew out his fortune, in the little ham- 
let of McGregor, on the border of the Mississippi river, in the 
State of Iowa, when a call for 75,000 men came from our 
lamented President Lincoln. Thinking my services might be of 
some little value, I commenced the formation of a company. A 
drum and fife were brought into requisition. The streets were 
daily paraded. The usual ragtag and bolitail of followers and 



28 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

boys trooped after the music. A company roster was made 
out and freely signed. Merchants, lawyers, doctors and arti- 
sans all seemed anxious to join. Meetings were held, patriotic 
speeches were delivered, in which sixty to ninety days were 
allowed to completely annihilate our Southern neighbors and 
drive what few of them were left back into the Union. It was 
decided to call the company the '•'Union Rangers, " and your 
humble servant was selected to visit the Governor of the State 
in order to be incorporated at once into the army and sent to 
the front. 

"In the meantime the 75,000 call had been filled. The bat- 
tle of Bull Run had been fought and lost to us, and another 
call had been ordered. The Governor said no cavalry had been 
called for from Iowa as yet, but to go back and keep my com- 
pany together, as they would certainly be called for. So I 
returned and waited patiently day after day, and finally, when 
patience was about exhausted, a telegram came notifying me to 
hold my company in readiness to report to Colonel Fitz Henry 
Warren, First Iowa Cavalry, at a moment's notice. Then came 
consternation in our camp — a general stampede and back-out of 
so large a number of the would-be soldiers on paper that it 
nearly depleted the company. But by the heroic efforts of 
those really in earnest the company was finally made up again 
and ready when the call came. The steamer War Eagle was 
chartered to carry us to Burlington, where we arrived August 
1st, and were mustered into the service of the United States 
August 17th, 1861, as Company K, First Iowa Cavalry." 

On the 13th of June the Captains of these ten companies re- 
ceived orders from the Governor to hold their companies in 
readiness for further orders, and on the 18th of July were or- 
dered to rendezvous at Burlington to be mustered into the 
United States service. On July 30th the muster in commenced 
and continued without delay until all were mustered in. 

Prior to this time, (in the latter part of May,) an order from 



HISTOKY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 29 

the Governor was issued to the officers of the companies then 
organized to meet at Ottumwa for the purpose of forming a 
regimental organization. The meeting was held June 5th, at 
which time Fitz Henry Warren was elected Colonel, Charles E. 
Moss Lieutenant Colonel, Edwin W. Chamberlain Major. The 
regimental organization commenced at this date, June 5 th, 
1861. 

At an extra session of the Legislature of the State, held 
about May 15th, a joint resolution was passed tendering these 
ten companies to the Secretary of War as an independent regi- 
ment. It was the second regiment of cavalry mustered into 
the United States service during the rebellion. The First Illi- 
nois Cavalry was mustered in a few days before. 

In the raising, recruiting, and the acceptance into service of 
the regiment. Lieutenant Colonel Charles E. Moss was most in- 
defatigable in his efforts, as an extract from a letter from him, 
under date of Springfield, Missouri, July 3d, 1885, will show: 
' ' I issued advertisements, sent out handbills, calling for volun- 
teers to fill a regiment, the week we heard of the firing on Fort 
Sumter, and in May attended the session of the Legislature and 
lobbied through the resolution tendering it to the Government ; 
and was present, in fact called the meeting at Ottumwa in 
June that organized it, secured the commissions for field offi- 
cers, and finally procured its acceptance. I selected ten of the 
companies comprising the regiment. Of course I cannot avoid 
feeling an interest in the First Iowa boys. My health is not 
good, I am getting old, and begin to feel that my race is al- 
most run. I would like much to meet my old comrades once 
more this side the River, and am living in hope to do so. ' ' 

Lieutenant Colonel Moss died recently, (June, 1888,) and 
will meet the ' ' Boys of the Old First " he so kindly held in re- 
membrance on the other " ' side the River. ' ' 

By an act of Congress, approved July 29th, the number of 
companies constituting a cavalry regiment was increased to 
twelve. This was pleasing intelligence for those who had en- 



30 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

listed for the First Cavalry ])ut were unable to olitain admis- 
sion l^ecause the regiment was filled to its maximum strength. 
Arrangements were at once made for the organization of the- 
two companies, to be designated as Companies L and M. 

Company L 
Was recruited by Lieutenant H. H. Heath and Sergeant 
James M. Simeral, Company G, and Sergeant D. C. Mclntyre, 
Company B. The men were mostly enrolled in the counties 
of Dubuque, Jackson and Jones, coming from nearly the same 
localities as that of Company G. The company was organized 
with H. H. Heath as Captain ; and D. C. Mclntyre, after- 
ward Captain, First, and James M. Simeral, afterward First 
Lieutenant, Second Lieutenants, and was mustered into the 
United States service September 23d, 1861. No further in- 
formation as to the formation of this company has been re- 
ceived. 

Company M. 
The "Black Plume Rangers" 
Were composed of many of those men who were unable to 
join Company B, and enrolled principally in the county of 
Clinton. It was organized with W. H. Ankeny as Captain ; 
James Crissy First, and James P. Crosby, afterward Captain, 
Second Lieutenants. It went into quarters September 2d, 
and was mustered into the United States service Septemljer 
12th, 1861, at Davenport. 

This company had been recruited for the First Regiment, but 
was not accepted because it already had its complement of ten 
companies, and the company had been ordered to Davenport to 
become a part of the Second Iowa Cavalry. When the order 
was received increasing cavalry regiments to twelve companies, 
measures were taken which resulted in ordering this company 
to Burlington and T)econiing, in accordance with the original 
design of both officers and men, a part of the First Cavalry. 
The addition of this company to the regiment completed its 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 31 

organization, and it now numbered one thousand and ninety-five 
men rank and file. Soon after additional enlistments increased 
the number to one thousand two hundred and forty-five. 

Upon completing the organization of the field and staff, the 
officers were as follows : 

Fitz Henry Warren, Colonel. 

Charles E. Moss, Lieutenant Colonel. 

Edwin E. Chamberlain and James O. Gower, (the latter 
promoted from Captain Company F,) Majors. 

M. B. Cochran, Surgeon ; D. B. Allen, Assistant Surgeon. 

James Latham, Chaplain. 

Dr. Joseph C. Stone, Adjutant. 

Martin L. Morris, Quartermaster. 

D. A. Kerr, Company A, J. S. Edsall, Company B, and J. 
M. Bryan, Company D, Battalion Adjutants. 

John A. Landis, Company I, W. H. Mussy, Company K, 
and C. A. Case, Company M, Battalion Quartermasters. 

The regiment owned its horses and horse equipments, receiv- 
ing from the Government forty cents per day for use and risk 
of each horse. It was composed almost entirely of educated 
young men, from twenty to thirty-five years of age, as is shown 
by the records of veteran re-enlistments. The average age of 
six hundred and fifteen examined at the time of veteran re- 
enlistment was twenty-five and three-fourths years, and it is 
safe to estimate that one-half of the men in the regiment were 
as patriotic and worthy to have filled the offices as were those 
who had been chosen. All the trades and professions were 
represented in the ranks, and it was prepared for any emergen- 
cy. Many were appointed to honorable and responsible posi- 
tions, while others received promotions in other regiments, 
performing all their duties with ci-edit to themselves and honor 
to the old First Cavalry. 

In view of the intelligent character of the regiment, it is not 
surprising that Fitz Henry Warren was elected as its com- 



32 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY, 

manding officer. The following brief history of Colonel War- 
ren is taken fi'om ' ' Iowa in War Times, " by S. H. M. Byers, 
Adjutant of the Fifth Iowa Infantry Volunteers : 

"Brevet Major General Fitz Henry Warren was one of the 
ablest and most accomplished men of the State when the war 
came on. He came west to Burlington after a business career 
in Massachusetts, in the summer of 1844, and in 1849 Presi- 
dent Taylor appointed him Assistant Postmaster General. The 
excellent judgment with which he performed the important duties 
of his position attracted very general attention, and his name and 
character rapidly became a credit to the State. When Millard 
Fillmore signed the fugitive slave law, Warren threw up his ap- 
pointment and left the service of the Administration. This 
refusal to be a party to a policy so inhuman, and so liable to 
drift the country into eventual disaster, made Fitz Henry War- 
ren a popular man, and he was soon selected as one of the promi- 
nent managers in the campaign for General Scott. In the 
campaign of 1860, also, he became prominent, and was one of 
the most eloquent supporters of Mr. Lincoln before the people. 
After the election his former position in the Cabinet as Assist- 
ant Postmaster General was tendered him, but he dechned, he 
preferring to enter the military service of his country as a cav- 
alry officer of volunteers." 

At the time the war broke out he was associate editor of the 
New York Tribune, and was one of the ablest journalists in the 
United States. Warren was very impulsive, independent in 
action, brave and honorable, with a heart full of sympathy 
and affection. Knowing the character and ability of his 
men, he was supremely proud of his regiment, and his as- 
signment to the command was received with much pleasure 
by all, officers and men. A little incident which happened 
at Sedalia aptly illustrates his feeling upon this point. A Mis- 
souri militia Colonel was in command of the post. When the 
regiment went into camp at that place this Colonel, a "• ' recon- 
structed" I'ebel, wlio had heard of the summary manner in 




CdL fitz henry warren, 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 33 

which the regiment treated his former friends in the various parts 
of Missouri, made same abusive and disreputable remarks in 
relation to the regiment. Colonel Warren heard of it, and 
without delay called on the militia Colonel. Among other 
things during the interview he said : ' ' Colonel, I have with me 
a thousand men more capable of commanding a regiment than 
you are' ' — ending with his usual expletive, ' "- G-d d — n you ! ' ' 
The Missouri Colonel made no further remarks about the First 
Iowa Cavalry. 

Quite a number of the officers of the regiment were among 
the noted and talented politicians of the State. 

Lieutenant Colonel Moss had been a cavalryman in the Mex- 
ican war, and was a noted orator of Lee county, of intensely 
radical opinions. 

Judge William E. Leffingweil, Captain of Company B, was 
one of the ablest lawyers in the State, and one of the finest ora- 
tors in the Democratic party. 

P. Gad Bryan, Captain of Company D, was a lawyer by 
profession, and a popular Democrat, from the southern part of 
the State. ' ' Of a generous nature, addicted to joining the 
Church once in awhile, it was almost impossible to defeat him 
when he ran for office, which he frequently did. ' ' 

William Thompson, Captain Company F, had been a mem- 
ber of Congress, and connected with the leading Democratic 
journal of the State. "-After his party lost the reins of power, 
it was usual for him to preside at its State conventions, or take 
a prominent part therein, much to the disgust of Judge McFar- 
lane, of Boone county.'' 

Daniel Anderson, Captain Company H, was an acknowledged 
political leader in his section, and long represented his district 
in the State Senate. 

Robert L. Freeman, Captain Company K, had been a soldier 
in the Mexican war, and was well and favorably known in po- 
litical warfare in Clayton and adjoining counties. 

H. H. Heath, Captain Company L, was a leader in the 



84 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

Breckinridge wing of the Democracy, and quite belligerent; he 
however yielded to the circumstances. '■ *• His fealty to his 
(irovernment outweighed the fealty to party, and he manfully 
left it at the call of patriotism.." 

After the arrival of oui* troopers in Burlington, they were 
engaged in l)uilding barracks for themselves, making shoes for 
their horses, and otherwise preparing for the life of a soldier. 
We have reason for saying that their camp life was not wholly 
devoid of sunshine and merriment, and that they had quickly 
learned one of the first duties of a soldier — to complain of the 
(juality of his rations — for, quoting from Captain S. S. Bur- 
dett's (Company B) diary, we find that on August 6th the regi- 
ment was ordered to Keokuk to prevent, as reported, a raid 
from the rebels on the Missouri border. The raid, however, 
did not materialize. The regiment arrived at Keokuk August 
Hth, and this is what the Captain says in relation to rations : 
"August 8th, company reached Keokuk. -Hard sledding,' 
short rations and poor in (luality. August 9th. Keokuk ; musty 
bread, maggoty bacon, short of hay. musty corn. Saturday. 
August loth, row among all the companies about rations ; com- 
panies left dress paratle on double (juick, shouting ])read. Sun- 
day, August 11th. rations improved." On Monday they 
marched for Burlington, arriving at that place on the 13th. 

A])()ut this time C^aptain William Thompson. Captain Com- 
pany E. by order of Colonel Warren, visited St. Louis for 
the pin-})ose of tendering the services of the regiment to Major 
(reneral Fremont. (\)lonel Th()m})son writes as follows in ref- 
erence to the matter : 

"Some time after the regiment had been fully organized 
and nnistered into the United States service, it moved to Keo- 
kuk in order to be near the field of anticipated conflict and to 
await further orders. A few days after our arrival at Keokuk, 
I was ordered l)y Colonel Warren to St. Louis, with instruc- 
tions to present in his name as Colonel thereof the regiment. 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 85 

already mounted on their own horses? and eciuipnients, to Major 
General John C. Fremont, whose headquarters were then at St. 
Louis, and if the regiment was accepted by him, to procure 
from him the means of clothing, arming and equipping it. In 
a])out a week from the time I made known to General Fremont 
the object of my visit, I was informed olficially by his Quarter- 
master General that the General would not receive the regi- 
ment unless it would sell its horses to the Government at ^119 
a head for such as would pass inspection. As the law then 
allowed cavalrymen and officers to own their horses and horse 
eciuipinents, and to receive ample pay for their use and risk, 
and as our horses had cost on an average over $150 a head, I 
appealed from the General's decision to the Secretary of War. 
Colonel Warren ordered me to proceed to Washington with the 
ajjpeal, and if necessary to offer the regiment to General Mc-- 
Clellan, who was organizing the Army of the Potomac. At 
Washington 1 })resented the case to Secretary Cameron, who 
referred me to his Assistant, the Hon. Tom Scott, who at first 
thought General Fremont was right, but when I produced the 
law he overruled General Fremont's decision, and issued a per- 
emptory order to the General to receive the regiment with their 
horses and horse equipments, and to pay forty cents a day for 
the use and risk of each. 

•' In about six weeks, having performed the duties assigned me 
as far as I was able, I rejoined my regiment, then in quarters 
at Camp Benton, near St. Louis, Missouri."" 

The ''boys" were ra})idly endeavoring to become expert 
horsemen, and frequently i)ut their horses on their mettle, re- 
gardless of time or place. This exercise became so frequent 
that the following order was issued to correct this militain/ 
irregularity' : 

Headquarters First Regiment Iowa Cavalrv, 
Camp Warren. Aug-ust 18th. 1861. 
C'aptain (iowER: — Your attention is called to the following- order in 
force in this command, and vou will aid in its strict enforcement : 



36 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

i ' To avoid injury to horses from improper riding, each company 
will water its horses at water call, in charge of one of the company ser- 
geants, who will not permit the horses to be ridden faster than a walk 
to and from the place of watering ; and in no case will any soldiers be 
permitted to run their horses through camp, or through the streets of 
the city or town in the neighborhood of the camp, except when under 
the command of a commissioned or non-commissioned officer." 

By command of Colonel commanding. 

H. H. HEATH, Adjutant. 

It appears from the text of the order that the ' ' boys' ' could 
speed their horses at any time and place providing they were 
under the command of a commissioned or non-commissioned 
officer, and that the officers were not debarred from partici- 
pating in the sport. 

They remained in rendezvous at Burlington, drilling and do- 
ing camp duty, until September 30th, at which time they were 
ordered to St. Louis. On that day six companies embarked 
on the steamer Jennie Whipple, ^\\i\\ their horses on barges. 
On arriving at Montrose they re-embarked on the steamer Han- 
nibal City, and arrived at St. Louis October 2d at about four 
o'clock p. M. Here they disembarked and marched to Benton 
Barracks. The other companies except L and M followed, ar- 
riving at the Barracks from tw.enty-four to forty-eight hours 
later. 

Says a member of Company C : ^ ' The following incidents 
occurred on the trip to St. Louis. After passing Alton, Illi- 
nois, we were fired upon by a man on the bluff. The shot was 
aimed at a group of us sitting around the pilot house. It was 
well aimed, but the ball fell short and struck the barge among 
the horses, and imbedded itself in the timber. Edwin W. Deal, 
our saddler, while attempting to saddle his horse, fell overboard 
and was drowned." 

Companies L and M remained in camp at Burlington until 
October 13th, on account of a delay in the furnishing of their 
uniforms and horse equipments, and arrived at Benton Barracks 
October 17th. At this time Major General John C. Fremont 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 37 

was in command of the Western Department, comprising the 
States of Missouri, Kentucky, Illinois, Kansas, and the Terri- 
tories west of these States. His headquarters were at St. Louis. 
The State of Missouri at this time was the great battle field of 
the West, and the warfare was carried on by an organized army 
and by lawless marauders, principally by the latter, the State 
becoming one vast theater of pillage, arson and murder. The 
slaveholding power was in the ascendancy. The want of suc- 
cess of our armies in the East, and the victories gained in the 
West at such fearful costs, were a source of alarm and distress 
to the loyal people of the North. Fremont, believing success 
to be a duty, had taken the field in person and was ' ' making 
slavery feel the war." He was at Springfield with an army of 
about 20,000 men, while Generals Price, Van Dorn and others 
confronted him with a superior force at Keitsville and vicinity, 
about twenty-five miles distant to the south. Brigadier General 
John Pope, with one division of Fremont's army, was at Jef- 
ferson City ; Major General David Hunter, with another divis- 
ion, was at Versailles, a town about twenty miles south from 
the Pacific railroad, both under marching orders to reinforce 
Fremont, while other divisions of the army were located at 
other convenient points. On the 18th the first battalion of the 
regiment — Companies A, B, F and G, under command of Cap- 
tain Leffingwell, Company B — was ordered to report to General 
Pope, then on the march to Springfield. Having been fur- 
nished with revolvers and sabers, they embarked on the steamer 
South- Western and another Missouri river steamer, and arrived 
at Jefferson City on the 20th, going into camp at '•'■Camp 
Price." On the 25th the battalion marched by the way of Cal- 
ifornia and Syracuse to Otterville, arriving at that place on the 
26th. On the 27th it was ordered to escort a supply train, and 
at Humans ville joined the army under General Pope, at which 
time it was ordered to report to him as his body guard. 

From this place, on November 1st, a forced march was made 
to Springfield, in obedience to an order from General Fremont, 



38 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

who had received intelligence that General Price and his forces 
were a})oat to attack him. General Pope with his command 
reached Springfield alwut eight o'clock on the morning of the 
3d, but no attack was made upon that place. 

At this time. November 2d, in the presence of the enemy. 
General Fremont was removed from the command of the De- 
partment — superceded l)y Major General David Hunter, who 
was at that time marching upon another road to reinforce Gen- 
eral Fremont. On assuming command of the army, Genend 
Hunter, by the advice, not positive order, it is said, of Presi- 
dent Lincoln, ordered the evacuation of Springfield, and a 
return of the troops to the Missouri river. This disgraceful 
act on the part of General Fremont's .superiors, as intended, 
was exceedingly humiliating to him, and a most bitter disajv 
pointment to his men. They expected and desired to be led 
by their favorite commander against Price and his rebel hordes, 
then but a few miles to- the south. Fremont had been too pro- 
nounced in his views as to the employment of slaves in assisting 
to crush the rebellion, and his fate was thus sealed. 

• • Thy error. Fremont, simply was to act 

A brave man's part, without the statesman's tact. 
And taking counsel but of common sense. 
To strike at cause as well as consequence." 

The chase after the rebel army was relinquished. The "boys" 
in sore disappointment countermarched to the Missouri river. 
The army was virtually disbanded, and the southern portion of 
the State, for several months, abandoned to Price and his fol- 
lowers. 

By the time Major (jeneral Hunter reached the Pacific rail- 
road he was superceded l)y Major General H. AV. Halleck. 

Springfield was evacuated, and on the 9th the return march, 
with rations nearly exhausted, with no supply trains near, was 
connnenced. The battalion, followed l)y the army, camped on 
the 10th three miles distant south from the town of Bolivar, 
the county seat of Polk county, on the road leading from 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY, 39 

Springfield to Warsaw. On the 11th, eight miles distant south 
of Quincy, a town in the northern portion of Hickory county. 
On the 12th, eight miles south from the town of Warsaw, the 
county seat of Benton county, on the Little Pomme de Terre 
river. On the 13th, two miles north of Warsaw, on the edge 
of a prairie, on a branch of Cole Camp creek, near the little 
town of Orange. On the 14th, aljout twelve miles north from 
Warsaw, on Cole Camp creek. On the 15th, four miles south 
from Smithton, near the old camping ground of the liattalion. 
On the 16th, two miles west from Otterville, a small town on 
the Pacific railroad, in the southwestern portion of Cooper 
county — the weather cold and freezing. On the 17th it arrived 
at Syracuse, a little town also on the Pacific railroad, in the 
northeastern portion of Morgan county, going into camp about 
two miles south of the town. It remained here until Saturday, 
December l-lth, doing scouting duty, etc., the active and labo- 
rious duty of which will be seen by noting a few instances of 
the labor performed. 

On November 2<)th a party was sent out in the direction of 
flonesburg : '^ Marched all night and arrived in the town cm 
the morning of the 31st." On the same day it was in camp 
near Muddy Creek, as will be seen by the following receipt 
given by Major (Captain) Leffingwell for corn : 

(.'amp neak Muddy Creek, Mo., 

November 21st. 1861. 
» Received of John Rutherford thirty bushels of corn, which I certify 
was absolutely necessary for the ])ublic sei'vice. 

(Signed.) W. E. LEFFINGWELL. 

Major First Iowa Cavalry. 

The scouting party returniHl to camp at Syracuse al)()ut mid- 
night the 21st. 

December 5th, a scouting party commanded by Captain Lef- 
fingwell was ordered out in the direction of Warsaw, and 
camped in a severe snow storm ten miles south from the little 
town of Cole Camp, in Benton county. A force of 1,500 reb- 



40 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

els was reported at Warsaw. The command entered the town 
about ten a. m. of the 7th, but found no enemy. On the 9th, 
about ten p. m., it returned to camp, "completely tired out." 

On the 9th, another party of 150 men, commanded by Cap- 
tain P. Gad Bryan, Company D, was sent out. returning at 
midnight of the 10th. 

On the 12th, all of the available force of Companies B and 
G were ordered out with three days' rations. 

Soon after the first battalion had been ordered from Benton 
Barracks into the field, Companies C and H, Captain Levi 
Chace commanding, were ordered to Jefferson City, by boat, 
and from there to Rockport, a small town on the Missouri river, 
about forty miles northwest from Jefferson City. Here they 
disembarked and joined the command of General Prentice in a 
campaign into northern Missouri, scouting the country in the 
vicinity of Roanoke, Renick, Columbia, and other places ; after 
which they returned to Jefferson City, where they remained 
during the winter under the command of Major Jas. O. Gower. 

A few days after Companies C and H left Benton Barracks, 
Companies D and I, under command of Captain J, W. Cald- 
well, Company I, were ordered into the field, to report to Gen- 
eral Pope. They joined the first battalion at Syracuse, a small 
town situated on the Pacific railroad, in Morgan county. 

Soon afterward Company I was ordered to escort a supply 
train for General Fremont at Springfield. Arriving at Ver- 
sailles, the county seat of Morgan county, situated about twenty 
miles to the south of Syracuse, the order was countermanded. 
The company countermarched and joined Companies A, B, D, 
F and G at Syracuse. 

December 10th, while in camp at Syracuse, Captain William 
M. G. Torrence, Company A, having been previously (^October 
26th) commissioned Major, assumed command of the Ijattalion. 
This was a great disappointment not only to Captain Leffing- 
well, l)ut to all the companies in the field. It was generally 
supposed that Lieutenant Colonel Moss would resign as soon as 




CAPTAIN H. 8. HEBERLING, 
Late Amb. Off. and A. A. Q. M. 2iid Cav. Div. Mil. Div. of the Gulf. 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 41 

the regiment arKved at Benton Barracks, that Captain Torrence 
would be promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, and Captain Leffing- 
well promoted to Major. But Lieutenant Colonel Moss did 
not resign, and Captain Torrence was accordingly promoted to 
Major. 

On the 14th the battalion, with the exception of the greater 
portions of Companies B and G, who had been ordered out on 
the 12th as a scouting party, marched in command of Major Tor- 
rence to join General Pope's forces at Sedalia. in an expedition 
for the purpose of intercepting a number of large bodies of re- 
cruits on tlieir way to join the rebel armj^ under General Price 
at Osceola, the county seat of St. Clair count}'. It arrived at 
Sedalia about twelve m. of the 15th. 

General Pope's forces consisted of two brigades, numbering 
aljout four thousand men, infantry, cavalry and artillery. The 
first brigade was commanded l)y Colonel Jefferson C. Davis, 
Twenty-Second Indiana Infantry, and the second by Colonel 
(afterward Major General) Fred Steele, Eighth Iowa Infantry. 
The command marched on the afternoon of the 15th in a south- 
erly direction, on the road leading to Warsaw, in order to 
deceive the enemy as to the destination of the expedition. The 
march was continued on this road for a distance of eleven miles. 
On the 16th the line of march was changed to the west, and 
after marching about tAventy-three miles the command camped 
at a place on Post Oak creek, between two roads leading from 
Warrensburgh, the county seat of Johnson county, to Clinton, 
the county seat of Henry county — one road leading by the way 
of Post Oak and Cornelia, and the other by way of Chilhowe. 
Many prisoners were brought in during the day. 

Just as the l)attali()n had arrive<l in camp, it was ordered out 
to the town of Chilhowe, about five miles distant. Here the 
advance guard, under command of Sergeant J. H. Si)ringer, 
Compan}' I, captured the enemy's pickets. Arriving in the 
town it was ascertained that 1,500 of the enemy were in camp 

about five miles distant. 

6 



42 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

Major Torrence sent a dispatch to General Pope informing 
him of the facts, and requested that reinforcements be sent him. 
Five hundred men, with two sections of the Missouri Light 
Artillery, were ordered out. Upon the arrival of the reinforce- 
ments the march was continued all ni<jht, arrivino: at the little 
town of Rose Hill, in the southeastern portion of Johnson 
county, about four a. m. on the 17th. Here information was 
received that the enemy, with a train of twelve wagons, had 
passed through this place at about eleven o'clock on the pre- 
vious night. At seven a. m. the pursuit was continued in a 
southerly direction all day, and frequent skirmishes occurred. 
On arriving at Grand river it was ascertained that 3,000 of the 
enemy had camped there the previous night ; crossing the river 
at daylight, they Avere intending to reach Price's army at Os- 
ceola during the day. At dark the command countermarched. 
Marching all night, it halted a1)()ut four a. m. of the 18th 
for ' • rest and feed. ' ' 

Having received orders from General Pope, the detac;hment 
marched for Warrensl)urgh, arriving at that place at four p. m. 
the same day. The entire force was in camp at this place. 

From Warrensburg the command marched at eight a. m, 
Thursday. December 19th. in an easterly direction by the way 
of Knol^ Noster to Sedalia. It was while on this march that 
intelligence was received of a large rebel force in camp on 
Black river, opposite the month of Clear forks, about twelve 
miles distant to the north. A small force was ordered out, the 
camp found, and the engagement of Blackwater ensued. 

BATTLE OF BLACKWATER. 

The first battle in which any portion of the regiment was en- 
gaged occurred on Thursday, the 19th of December, 1861, on 
Black river, opposite the mouth of Clear forks, near the little 
town of Milford. situated in the northeastern portion of John- 
son county, Missouri. 

The names iriven this engagement are ''Blackwater,'' "Mil- 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 43 

iowV and '^ Kirk Patrick' s Mills/ ' At this time Companies A, 
D. F and I, with small detachments of Companies B and G — the 
larofer portions of B and G, as before noted, having l)een sent 
out on the 12th on scouting duty, were not present with the 
command at this time. Three hundred and fifty men of the 
First Iowa Cavalry, under command of Major Torrence, and 
two companies, D and — , seventy-five men, of the Fourth 
United States Cavalry, under command of Lieutenants Gordon 
and Amory respectively, with a section of the Missouri Light 
Artillery, all under the command of Colonel Jefferson C. Davis, 
of the Twenty-Second Indiana Infantry Volunteers, attacked and 
captured a rebel camp numbering 1,300 men, infantry and cav- 
alry, with all the camp equipage, under Colonels Robinson, 
McGoffin and Alexander, recruits from northern Missouri on 
their way to join the rel)el army. The following is a brief de- 
scription of the engagement and result. 

As our force approached the enemy's pickets, stationed at 
some little distance from a bridge over Black river, an attack 
was made and a running fight ensued. On arriving at the 
bridge it was found to l)e Avell guarded by an additional force 
and quite a skirmish took place. Here we lost one man killed 
and two or three wounded. The bridge, however, was soon in 
our possession, and the running fight continued, until at three 
I'. M. ' ' we were right upon their camp and received a full vol- 
ley from the enemy." Their camp l)eing located in the woody 
bottom land, covered with underbrush, and as the First Iowa 
were armed with only pistols and sabers, it could l)e of no ser- 
vice in such a locality, so was ordered to withdraw and form in 
line a short distance from the woods. A short, sharp fight en- 
sued lietween the United States Cavalry, who were armed with 
carbines, and the enemy. After which a party bearing a Hag 
of truce appeared advancing from the woods toward the com- 
mand. This part}^ were met l)y a party sent out by Major 
Torrence. The following account of the interview had with 
the enemy and the subsecjuent surrender is taken from the diary 



44 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

of Lieutenant D. A. Kerr, Adjutant of the battalion, who was 
present at the time. 

When the parties met the enemy enquired, • ' Under what 
flag are you lighting?" Reply : -'Under the flag of the Uni- 
ted States — the stars and stripes. ' ' Enemy : - ^ We flght under 
the flag of the Confederate States,'' and then they returned to 
their camp. About ten minutes afterward another party bear- 
ing a flag of truce appeared and was met as before. They 
asked for an hour to decide whether or not to surrender. Col- 
onel Davis replied : ' ' Not one minute, and depend upon it we 
will spill the last drop of blood before we are through. We 
do not wish to sacrifice the lives of our men without it is neces- 
sary, but I demand immediate and unconditional surrender." 
The interview closed and the party returned to camp. In a 
few minutes the party returned, accompanied by Colonel Rob- 
inson, the commander of the reliel force. Advancing, he said : 
' ' Sir, I surrender to you my command, with all my transporta- 
tion, and hope you will treat us as prisoners of war. ' ' Colonel 
Davis replied, • ' I hope you will find us gentlemen as well as 
soldiers." The enemy soon afterward marched ont and formed 
in line, and we passed by and presented arms. We returned 
to camp that night with 1.195 prisoners, men and oflicers. 
among whom were Colonels Robinson, McGoffin and Alexander. 
Seventy-three wagons, five hundred horses and mules, eleven 
hundred rifles and shotguns, one hundred pistols, Ijesides a 
large quantity of commissary stores, ammunition, etc., were 
captured. A portion of their cavalry escaped. Captain Mc- 
Queen with a detachment of Company A pursued them for some 
miles, and succeeded in taking five of them prisoners. 

In this engagement the enemy acknowledged a loss of five 
killed ; number of wounded unknown. Our loss was one man 
killed and eight wounded, seven belonging to Company D, 
Fourth Regiment United States Cavalry, and one belonging to 
the Twenty-Sixth Regiment Indiana Infantry, who had in some 
manner j)rocnred a mule and joined the expedition to •' see the 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 45 

fun." "He saw it." Brigade Surgeon Brodie and Surgeon 
M. B. Cochran, who were on duty with the battalion, were 
present and eared for the wx)nnded. 

The circumstances which led to this engagement and capture 
of the rebel force is thus related ])y Adjutant D. A. Kerr. On 
the afternoon of the 19th, Avhile on the march, the First Iowa 
Cavalry having the rear, a negro came running up and informed 
Major Torrence that ' ' Dar was more dan a tousand rebs in de 
l)end of Black ribber. " Major Torrence, after listening to liis 
story, questioned him closely, and was convinced the man was 
telling the truth, and with Adjutant Kerr accompanied the ne- 
gro to General Pope in the advance. General Pope, upon 
l)eing informed of the facts, replied, " Oh yes, another G — d 
d — d nigger story. There is no rebel force within forty miles 
of this place."" The Major with some of the others suggested 
that, as the information might be correct, they thought it ad- 
visable to send a small force out and if the}' were there to cap- 
ture them. To which the General replied, ^ ' Well, if you want 
to go, you can go and make d — d fools of yourselves. " It was 
decided to go, and the General ordered out a small cavalry 
force, Avith a section of the Missouri Light Artillery, under the 
connnand of Brigade Commander Colonel Jeff. C. Davis. The 
• •avalry were immediately ordered to the front, and left on a 
ln'isk trot with the artillery following. The command returned 
to (;amp aliout midnight, with all the prisoners and captured 
property. Colonel Davis and Major Torrence reporting at head- 
(juarters. General Pope was greatly pleased with the result of 
the expedition, and complimented both officers and men for 
such an overwhelming success. This lirilllant little exploit was 
the occasion which caused the promotion of Pope to a Major 
(Tcneral, and Jeff. C. Davis to a Brigadier, while Major Tor- 
rence, the })rime mover and the real commander of the expedi- 
tion, remained a Major of the First Cavalry. 

General Pojie, in his report to Major General Halleck of the 
engagement of Blackwater, and of the expedition, says : •• The 



46 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

forces under Colonel Davis behaved with gi'eat gallantry. ^ - 
Within five days the infantry forces comprising the expedition 
have marched over one hundred miles ; the cavalry more than 
double that distance. * * The march alone would do credit 
to old veterans, and it gives me pleasure to state that it hat> 
lieen performed with cheerfulness and alacrity." 

On the next day (20th), the prisoners being guarded by the 
infantry, the command marched for Otterville by the way of 
Sedalia, Georgetown, Farmer's City and Smithton, camping 
near Otterville on the 21st. From this place the prisoners 
were sent to St. Louis. The battalion remained in eamp at 
Otterville, (Companies B and G in the meantime having arrived 
from Syracuse,) until December 29th, at which time Compa- 
nies A, F, G and I marched for Booneville, arrivine; at that 
place on the 30th. Booneville is a flourishing town, situated on 
the south side of the Missouri river, in Cooper county. On 
the 31st, Lieutenant Dinsmore, Company I, and Adjutant Kerr, 
with a scouting party- of twenty men, were ordered out in a 
southeasterly direction from Booneville, returning to camp next 
day. 

The location of the several companies of the regiment, Jan- 
uary 1st, 1862, was as follows : Companies A, F, G and I at 
Booneville, Major Torrence commanding. B and D in camp at 
Otterville, (headquarters of General Pope,) scouting, doing- 
provost duty, and patrolling the Pacific railroad. Captain Lef- 
fingwell commanding. C and H at Jeflerson City, performing 
similar duties to those of B and D, Major James O. Gower 
commanding. E, K, L and M, Colonel Fitz Henry Warren 
commanding, at Benton Barracks, drilling and preparing for 
active field opei'ations. The headquarters of the regiment was 
at Benton Barracks. Surgeon M. B. Cochran was in the field 
with the first battalion, and Assistant Surgeon D. B. Allen was 
at Benton Barracks with the third ])attalion. Whenever the 
difl'erent companies left for the field, the sick men were left in 
hospital at Benton Barracks. In reference to this matter As- 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 47 

sistant Surgeon Allen, now residing tit West Liberty, Ohio, 
writes as follows : 

* ' I was left at Benton Barracks, with the balance of the regi- 
ment and the sick, Colonel Fitz Henry Warren in command, 
I received orders to reconstruct and convert one of the build- 
ings on the fair grounds into a regimental hospital, which I did, 
taking charge of it during the winter of '61 and '62 ; and the 
wounded of that part of the regiment in the tield were sent to 
Benton Barracks, so that the sick of that portion of the I'egi- 
ment which remained, and those that were sent in from the 
iield, gave us full wards and plenty to do. We had at that 
time an epidemic of measles, and those sick in their quarters, 
before I got the hospital completed, suffered greatly for want 
of ventilation, and there was necessarily a large mortality ; but 
after we got them in oui* cosy little hospital the mortality was 
nmch less." 

January 4th, hy order of General Pope, Companies A, F,, G 
and 1, in command of Major Torrence, with four companies of 
' • Merrill's Horse, " (Second Missouri Cavalry, ) in command of 
Lieutenant Colonel Shaffer and Major Hunt, crossed the Mis- 
souri river at Booneville on the march to Howard county. On 
the 5th this detachment camped on the Bonne Femme creek, 
about two miles northeast from Fayette, the county seat of 
Howard county. At this place they were reinforced by four 
companies First Missouri Cavalry, under Major Hubliard, and 
one company Fourth Ohio Cavalry, under Captain Foster. On 
Sunday, the 6th, this force marched into the town of Fayette, 
and removed a rel)el flag from the steeple of the Court House, 
and in its place hoisted ' ' Old Glory" to the breeze, amid ^he 
cheers of the soldiers and a few of the loyal citizens who were 
faithful to their country and to the old flag. After which Ma- 
jor Hubl)ard delivered an address, saying among other things 
for the especial benefit of his disloyal hearers, "that if that 
flag was molested he would return and burn the town." The 
flag- was not molested. 



48 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

BATTLE OF SILVER CREEK, MISSOURL 

It had been reported that a miinl)er of rebel camps were l^e- 
ing organized in this vicinity and this force had been sent to 
dcf^troy them. After scouting parties which had been sent to 
Glasgow and Roanoke had returned reporting a rebel force of 
eight hundred men under the notorious Poindexter in camp 
about seven or eight miles from Roanoke, on Silver creek, and 
after the arrival of five companies of the Fifth Iowa Infanti'}- 
from Booneville, for camp guard during the absence of the 
cavalry — this cavalry force consisting of Companies A, F, G 
and I, First Iowa Cavalry, two hundreed men, Major Torrence 
in command, a part of Companies B, H, I and L, First Mis- 
souri Cavalry, and Captain Foster's company. Fourth Ohio 
Cavalry, consisting of one hundred and eighty men. Major 
Hubbard in command, and one hundred men of ' " Merrill's 
Horse," Major Hunt in conmiand. all under the command of 
Major Torrence, by order of Genei'al Pope, marched on the 
8th at eight o'clock a. m., and after a march of about nine 
hours they arrived in the vicinity of the rebel camp. The at- 
tack was made at half -past four p. m., and in a short time 
"the enemy fled in every direction, leaving their camp in our 
possession. " All their camp equipage and their ' *• plunder" 
was burned, and 200 horses captured. ''The darkness of the 
hour saved them all from lieing taken prisoners. " The enemy's 
loss in this engagement was not accurately known, but supposed 
to have been about sixty killed and one hundred wounded. 
Here the regiment lost its first man, James Convey, Company 
F ; he was mortally wounded and died the next day. Five 
others of the regiment were also Avounded — James Scott and 
Thomas Fletcher, Company A ; Stephen M. Sexton, Compan\- 
F ; Cornelius Thompson and An(h"ew Johnson. Company I. 

The total loss as given in Surgeon Cochran's report, who was 
present during the engagement, was five killed, seven danger- 
ously, eleven severely and four slightly wounded. In reference 
to the death of Convey. Surgeon Cochran writes : ' ' In that 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 49 

engagement we lost our tirst man in battle — James Conve}', of 
Company F — as brave a boy as ever lived. He was but a 1)oy 
in years, but every inch a hero. I found him on the field a few 
minutes after he was shot, and saw that in all probability the 
wound would prove fatal in a few hours. He was also con- 
scious that he had answered to roll-call for the last time, and 
said to me : ' Well, some lives must be sacrificed in this cause, 
and it had far Ijetter be mine than one with wife and children 
dependent upon him.' Brave words, bravely uttered, and 
worthy to be written in letters of living light." 

The name Silver Creek was o^iven this eno^ao-ement for the 
reason that it was fought on the borders of a small creek by 
that name in the southwestern part of Randolph county, near 
the town of Renick, a small station on the North Missouri rail- 
road. On the 9th the command returned to camp near Fayette. 

Following are the reports of Major Torrence of the engage- 
ment and Surgeon Cochran of our wounded : 

REPORT OF MAJOR TORRENCE. 
Headquarters 1st Battalion 1st Iowa Cavalry, 
Camp NEAR Fayette. Howard Co., Mo., Jan. 11th. 186:^. 

Colonel : — Bespected Sir — The Major commanding- directs me to 
make the following- report to you. 

By oi'der of General Pope we proceeded from Otterville to this 
county for the purpose of dispersing- sundry rebel camps which were 
being- formed in the vicinity, and arrived here on Sunday, January oth. 
1862. Much fear was apprehended by the few strong Union men who 
reside near here that we would be attacked by the enemy — every pre- 
caution was taken against being- surprised. 

On Monday, the 6th. we raised the stars and stripes on the court 
house in Fayette, witnessed by the whole command and many citizens. 
Tuesday, the 7th, 400 men scouring- the country, and returned in the 
evening- bring-ing- intelligence of a rebel camp commanded by Poindex- 
ter, situated near Roanoke. On morning of the 8th, five companies of 
the Fifth Iowa Infantry arrived from Booneville, and leaving them to 
guard our camp here, the following command was on the march at 
eight o'clock, composed of pai't of four companies of First Missouri 
Cavalry. Companies I, L, B and H, and Captain Foster's Ohio Cavalry, 



50 HISTORY or FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

consisting' of 180 men, commanded by Major Hubbard ; four companies 
of First Iowa Cavalry, Companies A, F, G and I, consisting of 200 men. 
under command of Major Torrence ; and 100 Merrill's Horse, com- 
manded by Major Hunt. We arrived near the location of their camp, 
which was situated on or near the head waters of Silver creek, seven 
or eight miles from Roanoke, about four o'clock p. m., and made the 
attack at half-past four. The enemy were protected by dense woods and 
underbrush, and there was no approach to them save through a narrow 
road, only wide enough for two men to ride abreast. Our troops were 
immediately ordered, ■ ' Left in single rank" — dismounted, and every 
fifth man held horses, and prepared to fight on foot. The engagement 
commenced immediately — our boys rallied to the ground — the enemy 
made a faint cheer — when one simultaneous shout went up from our 
ranks. The enemy faltered, gave back, i-etreated in disorder, and a 
perfect rout on their side ensued. They dropped their guns, blankets, 
overcoats and hats, and we had possession of their camp. After pur- 
suing them a little distance, which we found impracticable, we returned 
to camp and destroyed everything thereunto belonging, being unable to 
take anything away. 

We returned to this camp on the morning of the 9th inst.. leaving 
Dr. Cochran with the wounded at a house near the battle ground. The 
wounded are doing very well, and will go to 8t. Louis by North Mis- 
souri railway to-day. A. G. McQUEEN. 

Captain (Jomjiany A, First Iowa Cavalry. 

REPORT OF SURGEON COCHRAN. 

Renick. Randolph Co.. Mo.. Jan. 12th. J 862. 
Sir : — I send you list of wounded (under my care) at battle of Silver 

Creek, Mo. 

First Iowa Cavalry. 

Company A. 
James Scott, in lower jaw. severely. 
Thomas Fletcher, in right side, not severely. 

Company F. 
James Convey, through the abdomen, fatally — has since died. 
Stephen M. Sexton, in right hand, not severely. 

Company L 
( "ornelius Thompson, in left shoulder, severely. 
Andrew Johnson, in both legs, not seriously. 
• ' Merriir s Horse . "" ' 

Company D. 
Jacob King, in the head, fatally — has since died. 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 51 

Company E. 

Alexander Keath, killed. 

Thomas Moore, in left thigh, severely. 

Henry Redding, in right knee and left elbow, not severely. 

Company F. 
William C. Lantis, in the right side, not dangerously. 
Fourth Ohio Cavalry. 
Captain P'oster's Company. 
Benjamin F. Dugan, in right arm and leg, not dangerously. 
Samuel Koflfman, in left hand, not severely. 
Leander Kinzer, in right leg, very severely. 
First Missouri Cavalry. 
Company I. 
flohn F. Dumont. in left arm, not seriously. 
William Myer, in the neck, fatally— has since died. 
Thomas W. George, in the head, fatally — has since died. 
George W. Mitchell, in the face, not dangerously. 
John Hessing, in right side and thigh, severely. 
John McGeary, in the hand, not severely. 

Company L. 
Lieutenant Burrows, in the arm, severely. 
Ansco Chubb, on the hip, slightly. 
John A. Brown, in the chest, severely. 

Birge's Shari) Shooters. 
James Conia. through the left lung, doing well. 

Several others were wounded, but I did not see them. I shall leave 
here for St. Louis to-morrow. All the boys are doing well, except Kin- 
zer. of Captain Foster's company, who will lose his leg if not his life. 
Truly Yours, M. B. COCHRAN, First Iowa Cavalry. 

Major W. M. G. Tokrence, First Iowa Cavalry. 

The following extracts from a letter written at Otterville, 
Mi.ssonri, by Sergeant, afterward Lieutenant C. W. W. Dow. 
Company F, in reference to the Ijattle of Silv'er Creek, etc., is 
here inserted : 

'•On January otli we raised our flag on the court house at 
Fayette. It is a strong secesh town. We placed our cavalry 
all around the court house square, and one of our men, a quar- 
termaster, raised the flag and tied it to the steeple. We gave 



52 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

three hearty cheers at the sound of the bugle, sung the Red, 
White and Blue, gave three more cheers, and then left for our 
camp two miles away. 

• ' Dec. 7th. In camp. A detachment has gone to look for 
the ' Swamp Angels. ' Ordered to have our horses remain 
saddled all night, and sleep on our arms. Report that 2,000 
rebels will attack us to-night. 

"• Dec. 8th. Day dawned but no attack made. At five a. m. 
the bugle sounded ' To horse, ' and we did as we expected to be 
done by — went after them. After marching fifteen miles we 
came to the town of Rcjanoke. Here we learned that the rebel 
camp was six miles distant. When within two miles of their 
camp we dismounted to fix our saddle-blankets, tighten 
girths, examine our arms, receive orders for the attack, etc. ; 
after Avhich we I'emounted and continued the march. The day 
was very foggy and tjuite warm. * * * 

' '*Our force consisted of about 520 men, Major Torrence, of 
our regiment, in command of the force. After marching about 
two miles we entered a forest heavy and dense. We followed 
this forest road until we were fired upon. Second Lieutenant 
Charles Dustin with eighteen men of Company F formed the 
extreme advance guard, Dick Hoxie l)eing bugler. The timber 
being so dense, we were ordered to dismount and fight on foot, 
every fifth man holding horses. I acted as Second Lieutenant, 
our (\iptain having been left sick at Booneville. Having been 
oi'derod "to go in/ in we went. The road being full of troops, 
with four or six companies ahead of us, we took the side of 
the road. Our guidon was carried by U. E. Johnson, of Iowa 
(.ity. Away we went like greyhounds, with nothing but revol- 
vers and sabers, (we had no carlfines — a d — d shame,) passing 
three companies armed with carbines and Colt's revolving rifles 
(six shooters), for the enemy's camp. Our guidon was the first 
flag in there. Yes, Company F flag was first and foremost. 
But to be more particular. When the enemy first fired on our 
advance under Lieutenant Dustin, thev fired a full vollev at about 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 53 

eight men, but did not wound any of them, as the advance 
had charged through and by them, before tlie rebels had fired a 
shot. But they came in behind him (Dustin), thus cutting him 
off for a time and then commenced firing on the advance 
thick and fast. As one of the rebels was leveling his rifle at 
Lieutenant Dustin, Dick Hoxie called to the Lieutenant to look 
out as a rel) was going to fire at him, then with his revolver he 
(Hoxie) shot the rebel through the head. 

•'The advance companies having halted to dismount. Lieu- 
tenant Dustin charged alone l)ack through the rebel line to urge 
the column forward. We soon had the rebs retreating, they giv- 
ing way. In a short time the First Iowa forged ahead of the car- 
bines of ' Merrill's Horse' and the First Missouri Cavalry with 
only our revolvers. Cheer followed cheer as we went into the 
creek, through ice and watei* knee deep, up the steep bank on the 
other side, and into their very camp. They wavered, scattered 
and fled like dogs as they were. As they had a steep hill to 
climb our revolvers and carbines told fearfully upon them. 
The fire from our side was a continuous roll. Many of the 
rebels fell on the side of the hill mortally wounded. As they 
had all left, and we being on foot, the bugle was sounded • To 
horse,' in order to pursue them, but our horses being so far 
away, and the underl)rush ))eing so dense, there Avas no oppoi'- 
t unity for pursuit. The *■ rally' having been sounded we formed 
in the center of their camp between the trees. An order was 
given to l)urn everything, as we could not take anything away, 
having no transportation. Everything was ])urned including a 
wagon loaded with powder. I saw one poor fellow of the 
enemy fall, and a few minutes afterwards, one of our men saw 
him lying dead with a daguerreotype in his hands. It was a 
l)icture of a young and handsome girl of nineteen or twenty 
years of age. The man took it, and has it now. I shall try 
to find out who he was. who she is, and send the picture to her. 
and tell her that in his last hour he thouirht of her. 



54 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

"We captured from eighty to a hundred horses, rifles, shot- 
guns, Imtclier knives about eighteen inches in length, etc. 

' ' The distinguished bravery of Lieutenant Dustin deserves 
the highest praise in leading the extreme advance with eight 
men, and on the field was highly complimented for his bravery 
and daring by the commanding officers, Majors Torrence and 
Hubbard. 

' ' You will doubtless see or hear of numerous articles in re- 
lation to our tight at Silver Creek, without any mention of the 
First Iowa Cavalry in them. I want to say that all such re- 
ports are infernal hes." 

On the next day scouting parties which had l)een sent out re- 
turned with a few prisoners, who had been scattered over the 
country, the result of the engagement on the 8th. 

On Sunday, December 12th, a countermarch to Otterville 
was commenced. Marching through the towns of Fayette, 
New and old Franklin, the command camped on the banks of 
the Missouri river, opposite Boone ville, on the 13th. On the 
15th it crossed the river and went into camp at that place. On 
the 16th the march was resumed, camping at the little town of 
Pilot Grove. Remaining in camp at Pilot Grove on the 17th, 
it resumed its march on the 18th. Passing through the towns 
of Pleasant Grove and Amaton. it arrived at Otterville at night 
and went into camp on its old camping ground. The battalion 
remained at Otterville until January 25th, at which time Com- 
panies A, F, G and I, under command of Major Torrence, 
marched for Sedalia. arriving at that place on the 27th. 

On the 28th they went into camp at a place between George- 
town and Sedalia, where their camp remained till March 12th. 
On February 3d, Companies B and D, with the Seventh Mis- 
souri Infantry, and Company E, First Missouri Light Artillery, 
all under the connnand of Colonel John D. Stevenson, Seventh 
Missouri Infantry, arrived at Georgetown on their way to Lex- 
ington, and left on the ith. During the time these companies 
were located near Georgetown their duties were arduous, and 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 55 

engagements of greater or less magnitude were of frequent oc- 
currence. The noting of a few must suffice. 

February 8th, Major Torrence having received leave of ab- 
sence, left for his home in Iowa, and Captain J. D. Thompson, 
Company G, assumed command. 

On the 12th, A, G and I, under the command of Captain 
Thompson, with two pieces of the Missouri Light Artillery, 
and six companies of the Eighth Iowa Infantry, all under the 
command of Lieutenant Colonel Geddes, Eighth Iowa Infantry, 
made an expedition to Brownsville, Saline county, sending 
scouting parties into Lafayette county, and in other directions 
for a distance of fifteen miles, taking several prisoners. 

The weather was exceedingly cold, and the troops suffered 
greatly on this expedition. 

RAID TO WARSAW. 

On the 15th, about four p. m.. Captain Thompson, with 120 
men from Companies A, F, G and I, and 120 men from the 
Eighth Iowa Infantry in wagons, under the command of Cap- 
tain Stubbs, left on a raid to Warsaw, and arrived at that place 
about three o'clock the next morning. They encountered the 
enemy's pickets at a hotel about four miles from town, charged 
them and run them into the town. The main body of the reb- 
els, consisting of about 300 men, had crossed the Osage river, 
and then disaljled the ferry boat. The rebel General Tom 
Price, (son of old Pap,) Colonel Dorsey. Brigade Surgeon, 
Major Cross, and Captain Inge, were taken prisoners ; and 36 
nudes and four horses were captured. They returned to camp 
ai)()ut daylight on the morning of the 17th. The march of 
fifty miles and back was made in thirty-six hours. 

On the 25th Company A, under command of Captain Mc- 
(^ueen. was ordered on a scout to Leesville. Henry county. It 
returned on the morning of the 27th, having captured fifteen 
prisoners and a number of horses. 



56 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

EXPEDITION TO HENRY, BATES AND ST. CLAIR 

COUNTIES. 
On March 3d a part of Companies A, F, G and I, 225 men, 
under command of Major Torrence, reported at Sedalia. Here 
they were joined by one section of the Missouri Liglit Artillery 
and five companies of the Eighth Iowa Infantry, under the com- 
mand of Lieutenant Colonel Furquerson, three companies of the 
Twenty-Sixth Indiana Infantry, and two companies of the 
Sixth Missouri Infantry. The infantry were transported in 
wagons. All, under command of Colonel Geddes, Eighth Iowa 
Infantry, left on an expedition through Henry. Bates and St. 
Clair counties. They marched through Belmont. Calhoun, 
Clinton, Deep Water, Rickey's Store and Pleasant Gap ; in the 
meantime sending out scouting parties in various directions. 
Returning l»y the way of Clinton, Calhoun and Belmont, the}' 
reached camp near Georgetown on the evening of the 8th, hav- 
ing marched two hundred and thirteen miles and taken fifty- 
.seven prisoners. 

During this period of misrule and anarchy, the slaves, ever 
faithful to the Union cause, demonstrating in numberless in- 
stances their allegiance and devoti(jn thereto, were ostracised by- 
special and specific orders issued l)y those who were being as- 
sisted and benefited by these unfortunate bondmen. President 
Lincoln, Secretary Stanton and General Halleck were endeavoi'- 
ing to solve the problem of reuniting a disruptured repul)lic by 
making it one-half slave and one-half free; a condition which 
President Lincoln in a pul)lic speech in 1858 declared could not 
exist, using the following mem()ral)le language upon that oc- 
casion : ' ' The Union cannot permanently exist, one-half slave 
and one-half free. '"■ Among the anti-slaveiy Generals Fremont 
was sacrificed at the behest of the slaveholding power — and the 
deplorable condition of Missouri was intensified and prolonged 
by such influence and action. 

The first i)rder to the regiment in reference to this matter 





Bbn. F. Skinner, Co. G. 
J. W. Kbapfel, Co. G 



S. VV. Trenchakd, Co. (J 
Ed. J. Brown, Co. G. 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 57 

was issued bj^ Capt. J. D. Thompson, Company G, Acting Ma- 
jor of the First Battalion in the absence of Major Torrence, 
dated at camp near Georgetown, Mo., Feb. 10th. 18(i2. There 
is no record sliowing by what authority he issued the order. 
The following is a copy of the order: 

Headquarters 1st Battalion 1st Iowa Cavalry, 

Camp near Georgetown, Mo.. Feb. 10th. 1HG2. 
Special Order No. 3. 

The commanding' officer directs that all negroes who have come into 
this camp subsequent to the 8th inst. shall be removed outside of our 
lines before to-morrow, nine o'clock a. m. 

Commanders of companies will see that this order is strictly enforced. 
By order of Capt. J. D. THOMPSON, Acting Major. 

and Com. 1st Battalion 1st Iowa Cavalry. 
David A. Kerr, Adjutant. 

On Feliruary 12th, however, General Orders No. 2 were 
issued from • ' Headquarters U. S. Forces, Post at Lexington. 
Mo. , by order of John D. Stevenson, Colonel Commanding ; 
Joshua W. Bourne, Act. Post Adjt." 

Sections 1. 8 aiid 9 of this fugitive slave order are inserted, 
and are as follows : 

Section I. The establishment of a Military Post at Lexington is for 
the pui'pose of restoring civil g-ovei*nment and social ordei" ; to renew 
the confidence of loyal citizens in the power of the Government to pro- 
tect them in the enjoyment of all their civil rights ; to induce all disaf- 
fected citizens to renew their allegiance to the Government, and to live 
in submission thereto : to put an end to the anarchy which has for the 
past nine months been permitted to exist, and restore that condition of 
law and order that in past times has afforded to the people such perfect 
happiness and substantial prosperity. To conduce to such result, the 
commanding officer declares the following rules foi- the government of 
himself and all persons within his command : 

Section VIII. The city of Lexington, as the commanding officer is 
advised, is infested with a large number of negroes whose masters fail 
to exercise over them that surveillance necessary to secure their good 
conduct. The Provost Marshal will require the owners of all slaves in 
and aroiuid the Post to take immediate possession of all such and re- 
move them beyond this Post : otherwise he will be proceeded against as 
a violator of this order and punished accordingly. 



58 HISTORY OF FIRST lOAVA CAVALRY. 

Section IX. No fugitive slaves will be allowed within this Military 
Post, and it is made the especial duty of the Provost Marshal, in pursu- 
ance of general orders from Department headquarters, to cause all 
fugitive slaves within this Post, or who may hereafter come within the 
same, to be arrested and placed beyond the lines. 

On May 6th another order was issued by Colonel Stevenson, 
to permit a Mr. Holmes to search the camp of the First Iowa 
Cavalry for a fugitive slave. A copy of this order is also in- 
serted. AH of these orders are inserted as reminiscences of a 
time when strenuous efforts were made to perpetuate dm^ery 
and establish Freedoin — to fight rebellion but not allowed to 
tire on the enemy's magazine. 

FUGITIVE SLAVE ORDER. 

Headquarters U. S. Forces, 

Lexington, Mo., May 6th, 1862. 

Major : — I have had application made to me by a Mr. Holmes, of 
Johnson eo>mty, for a fugitive slave, his property, alleged by him to be 
in your camp. 

I call your attention to the enclosed order upon the subject of fugi- 
tive slaves, which has been ajDproved at headquarters and ordered to be 
strictly enforced. I desire you immediately to requii-e all fugitive 
slaves in your camp to be placed beyond your lines. 

It is not my piu'pose to convert our soldiers into •• slave catchers, ■■ 
which would be alike repugnant to them and myself, but I hold it to be 
the first duty of a soldier to obey his superior officers. Major General 
Halleck orders all fugitive slaves to be placed beyond our lines, leaving 
the slave and his master to settle their affairs theinselves. This order 
you will strictly enforce. 

By order of JOHN D. STEVENSON, 

Major W, M. G. Torrence, Colonel Commanding. 

ComWg 1st Battalion 1st la. Cavalry. 

The First Iowa Cavalry Avere neither a l)and of slave hunters 
nor "slave catchers." Very little attention was given to these 
orders, as the following occurrence will show. 

In Fel»ruary, Avhile Companies B and D were at Lexington, 
information was received that a slave Avho had escaped from his 
master and given important information and rendered efficient 
service to Colonel Mulligan, at the time the Colonel was in 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 59 

command at Lexington, had been recaptured and returned to 
his master; tliat a chain had been riveted upon him. and he was 
a prisoner in his master's house. Lieutenant J. D. Jenks. 
Company D, ^vith a detail of men from Company D, visited the 
plantation near the town to ascertain the facts. The master 
disclaimed any knowledge of the facts and stoutly denied that 
any such man was on the plantation. During this conversation 
Lieutenant Jenks heard the clanking of a chain, and on search- 
ing the house he discovered the negro in one of the rooms, with 
a large iron chain aliout twelve feet in length and weighing 
seventy-tive poimds, ri^'eted around his ankle. He was at once 
taken to the blacksmith of Compan}' B. Isaac Rhodes, now re- 
sidino; at DeWitt, Iowa, the rivets cut, and the man o•i^'en his 
freedom. The chain was sent to the Iowa State Historical So- 
ciety, by Surgeon Cochran, a lasting memento of the l)arbarity 
of slavery and the devilish inhumanity and cruelty of the Mis- 
souri slaveholders, desperadoes, assassins and cut-throats which 
the First Iowa Cavalry encountered in its camjjaigns in this 
sorely afflicted State. 

The above eno-agements, skirmishes, scouts, etc., are cited 
to show the activity, the constant vigilance, the unswerving ad- 
herence to patriotism and duty, the tireless energy jind self- 
reliance and bravery of this regiment, amid the worst element 
comprising the so-called Southern Confederacy. It was an ex- 
perience which was never forgotten. The regiment was never 
ambushed nor surprised during its entire term of service. In 
this connection it is most })r()per to quote the language of Cap- 
tain S. S. Burdett, Company B, late Connnander-in-Chief of 
the Grand Army of the Republic, in his oration delivered at 
the reunion of the regiment at C'edai' Rapids, Iowa. September 
21st, 22(1 and 23d, lS8t), because it is eminently true, ex- 
pressed in language terse and unequivocal. He said : 

'•The early October days found us in Missouri, and tlience- 
forth we \vere assigned to duties which none could have well 
performed sa\'e onl}- the highest in the soldierly and patriotic 



60 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

(]ualities of patience, fortitude, self-denial, unflinching courage, 
and supreme devotion to a cause. Every hardship known to 
Avar fell to our lot. The somber picture we daily faced was for 
years unlit by a single gleam of those glories which, in regular 
warfare, light up the pathway of the soldier to glory or the 
grave. Our battle fields were in the by-ways and waste places, 
where the human foxes we followed had their holes. Our 
marches were in the night time, for from every hill-top, and 
sometimes from the tree-tops, looked out a watcher to note our 
progress and fix the ambush. And though compelled to this 
duty, we were left without proper arms, and for two-thirds of 
our t(n'm of enlistment were not so well armed for the business 
we were engaged in as were the enemies we followed. But our 
duty was performed without repining, and I believe that if the 
history of our whole service could be written up Avith that mi- 
nuteness with which Kinglake has told the story of the Crimean 
campaign, that it would appear that for individual daring, for 
extent of coimtry covered and protected, for extent of marches, 
for numl^er of conflicts, and for soldierly endurance and self- 
denial, no regiment in the service excelled that to which we be- 
longed, or deserved better of its country.'' 

In the spring of 1862 orders were received "-all along the 
line" to '' advance.'' March 6th Colonel Warren, with Com- 
panies E, K. L and M. at Benton Barracks, were ordered to 
Clinton. Henry county, for the purpose of establishing posts to 
guard the western portion of the State, and cutting ofl' supplies 
and recruits, which \vere being sent to the rebel forces through 
this great highway. Colonel A\'arren, with the third ])attalion, 
arrived at Sedalia on March 9th. 

On tho 2Tth Companies B and D were ordered to Clinton by 
way of Sedalia, arriving at Sedalia on the 3()th. Companies C 
and H at Jeflerson City were ordered to Clinton by way of Se- 
dalia. arriving at Sedalia on the 15th. Companies A, F, G and 
I wei-e ordered from GeorgetoAvn to Sedalia. arriving at Sedalia 
March 12th. 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 61 

On the 5th, as before mentioned, the third battalion, undei' 
Colonel Warren, left Benton Barracks for the field. A mem- 
ber of Company K gives the following account of their jpil- 
grimage to Sedalia : • *• On March 5th we were ordered to Se- 
(lalia. We marched from the Barracks to the Pacific railroad 
depot and boarded a train. When a few miles out, near Kirk- 
wood, a station on the road, a collision took place, Avhich resulted 
disastrously for us — losing nearly one-half of the horses of the 
command ; Company K losing sixteen killed and four badly 
crippled. After waiting about twenty-four hours in mud and 
sleet, another train was procured and we again started for 
Sedalia. The next morning, on arriving at Jefferson City, we 
met Companies B and D, and were ' dubbed' by them the 
' Band Box' Battalion. We arrived at Sedalia about 10 o'clock 
on the morning of the 9th. In reference to this ^ Band Box' 
and ' White Glove' Battalion, it is but just to say that when it 
left Benton Barracks it ^vas ^ regarded by competent judges as 
well drilled as any body of men in our l^ranch of the service, 
not excepting regulars. 

Colonel Warren now assumed command. March 14th head- 
([uarters of the regiment was established at Clinton, Mo., at 
which place it remained until April 8th, when it was removed 
to Butler, Bates count3^ about thirty -five miles Avest of Clinton, 
and about twenty miles from the Missouri and Kansas State line. 
Posts were also esta1)lished at Clinton, Henry county, and 
Osceola, St. Clair county. 

The march from Sedalia to Clinton, a distance of forty -five 
miles, was through a country the people of which were, with 
scarcely an exception, hostile to the Government and holding 
intimate relations with the various bands of guerrillas and bush- 
whackers infesting that region of country. In fact the whole 
section of country in which these posts were located was a 
hotbed of guerrillas, bushwhackers and desperadoes, requiring 
active vigilance :md caution on the part of our troopers. On 



62 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

arriving at Clinton, the town was found nearly deserted and 
houses tenantless. 

Colonel Warren was now in command at Butler; Lieutenant 
Colonel Moss, and afterward Captain W. E. Leffingwell, Com- 
pany B, at Osceola ; and Major James O. Gower at Clinton. 

Hospitals were established at Butler, Osceola and Clinton. 
Assistant Surgeon D. B. Allen in charge at Butler; Surgeon M. 
B. Cochran at Osceola ; and Dr. Thomas B. Drake, private of 
Company G, was detailed to take temporary charge at Clinton. 

Dr. Chas. H. Lothrop, having been appointed Additional As- 
sistant Surgeon of the regiment, on reporting for duty at Clin- 
ton May 26th, was ordered to take charge of that hospital. 

This movement of the United States forces was a slow but 
sure march to the southern part of the State, the loyal ele- 
ment of which was gaining the ascendancy. By proclamation 
Governor Gamble had ordered an enrollment of the mihtia. By 
this proclamation the disloyal men were compelled to enroll 
for the support of the Government or leave the State. This 
created intense excitement, and most bitter feelings were en- 
gendered. Many left, preferring to cast their lot with the 
Southern army. IVIurders, assassinations and other acts of out- 
lawry were committed. 

In this state of aflairs, as heretofore, the First Iowa Cavalr\' 
was equal to the emergency. Night and day they were in their 
saddles — in a certain locality at night, the next morning they 
would be found thirty and forty miles away, attacking and 
routing a rebel camp, oi' effectually brealdng up a band of l)ush- 
whackers and desperadoes. It would require pages to give the 
history of its engagements, skirmishes and marches, as they 
were of almost every day occurrence, with some portion of the 
regiment. Surrounded liy bands of unprincipled, stealthy foes, 
exposed to many and secret dangers, amid darkness and storm, 
sunshine and rain, they never swerved from the line of dutv', 
and rendered invalual)le service to the State in tliis pecidiarly 
trying period. 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 63 

To mention a few of the most prominent engagements must 
suffice. 



ENGAGEMENT OF MONTEVALLO, VERNON CO., MO. 

From the official report of Lieutenant Colonel Moss we learn 
that Companies D and K, one hundred strong, left the post at 
Osceola, April 13th, in command of the Lieutenant Colonel, 
for the purpose of breaking up a company of guerrillas at 
Montevallo, Vernon county. After crossing Sac river, the ad- 
vance guard had a skirmish with a squad of bushwhackers, 
killing one and wounding three or four others. John Bauder, 
Company K, was here Avounded in the leg. Companies D and 
K proceeded to Centerville, about five miles from Montevallo. 
capturing fourteen prisoners, and encamped for the night. 
Lieutenant Colonel Moss, ^vith an escort of twenty-five men, in 
charge of Lieutenant Barnes, Company K, proceeded to Monte- 
vallo, leaving Captain P. Gad Bryan, Company D, in command 
of the camp. Arriving at Montevallo the men were quartered 
in the hotel and adjoining yard. Al)out half-past four o'clock 
in the morning, (14th,) a troop of fifty men were discovered 
approaching the hotel, nearing which they demanded immediate 
surrender. This demand was at once replied to by a shot from 
one of our men. Sergeant J. A. Lyons, our present State 
Auditor. The fight continued until daylight, at which time 
the enemy retired. The precise loss of the enemy was not as- 
certained. Among the mortally wounded was Daniel Henly, 
known as the '"Wild Irishman,'" a leader of one of the most 
desperate gangs of desperadoes in Missouri. Our loss was two 
killed, Oscar Crumb and James Whitford, Company K, and 
six wounded. Sergeant J. A. Lyons, T. J. Tupper, Joseph 
Stone. Lieutenant Barnes, Company K, Samuel E. Shannon 
and Jacob Hursh, Company D. After firing a number of 
buildings in the town the command retui'ned to Osceola. On 
this raid several of the enemy were killed, twenty-two were 
\vei-e captured, besides a numl)er of horses and mules. 



64 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

Following is a copy of the official report of the engagenient. 
by Lieutenant Colonel Moss : 

REPORT OF LIEUT. COL. C. E. MOSS, FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 
Headquarters Post of Osceola, April 17, 1862. 

General : — On the morning of April ISth, 1862, I left this place in 
command of Companies D and K, First Iowa Cavalry, 100 strong, to 
proceed to Montevallo, Vernon county, for the purpose of breaking up 
a company of guerrillas, reported 300 strong, supposed to have col- 
lected at a point twelve miles distant from that place, on Cedar and 
Horse creeks. I was joined by a force of State militia, under Captain 
Gravely, from Humansville. 150 strong, making my whole force 250 
men. After crossing Sac river, fifteen miles above its junction with 
the Osage, we came upon the open prairie, when the advance guard 
had a skirmish with a squad of jayhawkers, killing one and wounding 
thz-ee or four more. They fii'ed upon the advance guard from a house, 
wounding private John Bauder, of Company K, First Iowa Cavalry, in 
the leg. After scouring the woods and thickets for a distance of four 
miles the command advanced to Beckstown, captui'ing on the way some 
fourteen prisoners. The troops then moved on to Clintonville, ten 
miles from Montevallo. where the State militia encamped for the night. 
Companies D and K then proceeded to Centerville, five miles distant 
from Montevallo, and ezicamped for the night. Learning at this point 
that a company of Federal troops left Montevallo only two days pre- 
vious, and there was no organized force in twelve miles from that place. 
I detailed Lieutenant Barnes, from Company K. First Iowa Cavalry. 
26 men, and the guide (Andrew J. Pugh) and my own servant, making 
the whole party 28 men, and proceeded to Montevallo, leaving Captain 
P. Gad Bryan in command of the camp, with orders to come up early 
in the morning. 

I arrived at Montevallo at seven o'clock in the evening, and quar- 
tered my men in and about the yard of the hotel, giving special oi-ders 
to all the men to sleep on their arms and remain close together, pre- 
pared for any attack that might be made. The men mostly slept in a 
room of a log house attached to the hotel, and in the loft over a stable 
in the yard, in which were picketed the horses. Four or five of the 
men slept in the front kitchen of the hotel. After the guards were set 
and the horses propei'ly cared for and fed, I retired, with Lieutenant 
Barnes, for the night. About half-past four o'clock in the morning we 
were alarmed by an approaching body of armed men. said to be 50 
strong, demanding an immediate surrender, with a threat of fii-ing the 







Phil. H. Francis, Uo. B., 
Secretary of the Association. 

Adjutant David A. Kerr, 
First President of the Association. 



E. J. Baboock, Co. A. 
First Sec'y of the Association. 

Orbin B. Cbane, 1st Serg't Co. B. 
1st Iowa Cavalry Vet. Vol. 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 65 

house over our heads and shooting each one of us unless we complied 
with the demand. The demand was answered by a shot from one of 
my men. The fight now commenced and waged fiercely until daylight, 
when the enemy retreated. The enemy would unquestionably have 
carried their threat of firing the house into execution were it not for the 
determined spirit of my command. 

After the fight had coinAnued a short time. I retired with Lieutenant 
Barnes and four or five other men from the lower to the upper story of 
the building, where deliberate aim could be taken from the windows, 
and the shots told with effect upon the foe. who retired some fifty yards 
distant and took shelter behind a neighboring store. The order was 
given to rush out, fall into line, and charge upon them. This being 
given in a tone sufficiexjtly loud to be heard by the enemy, caused them 
to disperse and cease ili'ing. The precise loss of the enemy cannot be 
ascertained ; sever'- • were thought to have been killed and seven 
wounded, three nortally. Among the mortally wounded was Daniel 
Henly, known in St. Clair. Cedar and Vernon as the ■■Wild Irishman." 
and leader of one of the most desperate gangs of desperadoes in Mis- 
souri. Our loss was two killed and six wounded, and two prisoners 
who afterward escaped. 

Never did men under similar circumstances display greater gallantry 
than those with me that night. Being exposed to a most murderous 
fire from double their number of men well armed, not a man flinched 
or showed any disposition to surrender or give up the contest. Lieuten- 
ant Barnes and Andrew J. Pugh (my guide) deserve my warmest 
thanks for their cool gallantry and determined courage. The band 
was found to be composed mostly of persons living or staying in the im- 
mediate vicinity of the place. 

The men met at another building, occupied as a tavern, and situated 
about three hundred yards fi'om where 1 stopped with my command. 
The ground between that hotel and the one we occupied was covered 
with vacant log huts and wooden buildings, with the exception of about 
seven rods, which was covered with a thick growth of brush. These 
buildings and the underbrush covered from view the advance of the foe 
until within thix-ty yards of the house. They were enabled by that 
means to approach much nearer before being discovered than they 
otherwise would have done. Two privates of Company K left against 
orders, and went to a house a quarter of a mile distant, occupied by a 
man belonging to the band, and were captured, with their horses and 
arms. 



Q6 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

Soon after daylight Captain Bryan came up with the two companies 
of Iowa cavalry and State militia. I immediately sent out a scout, 
under Lieutenant Barnes, of Company K, in pursuit, directing him to 
scour the country as far as Nevada and return that evening, I also 
sent another, under command of Captain Bryan, with orders to scour 
the country in the opposite direction and return in the evening. The 
scout under Lieutenant Barnes soon came in sight of fifteen of the band 
and pursued them some fifteen miles without being able to capture them 
or recover the prisoners. He followed them to Nevada, in Vernon 
county, and returned in the evening. Captain Bryan was more success- 
ful. He soon ran upon another party of the band, killed two and 
wounded some two more, and captured one (George Gatewood), and re- 
covered the two men captured the night previous. The keeper of the 
hotel where the band met and organized that night was a leader in the 
business and killed by Captain Bryan's men. 

Having learned from scouts and other sources that a body of some 
sixty men, besides two companies from Cedar creek, were preparing to 
attack the command that evening in Montevallo, I ordered the hotel 
where the former attack was organized and the old buildings between 
that and the place I was occupying with my command to be bui'ned, 
which was promptly done. This measure became necessary as a pre- 
caution against attack, and as a measure of safety, as those buildings, 
of little or no value to any one. were being used as places of protection 
and resort by the guerillas. 

The command remained at Montevallo during the night of Monday 
and left about seven o'clock Tuesday morning, and encamped about 
nine miles from Stockton Tuesday evening near Cedar creek. During 
the whole day bands of armed men. numbering from fifteen to twenty, 
were seen moving in the direction of Stockton and White Hair in Cedar 
county. 

On Wednesday morning a heavy rain set in. which raised Cedar 
creek so as to render it impassable for the wagons containing the 
wounded men, and I set out for this Post, and arrived here with an es- 
cort about ten o'clock in the evening. The command camped sixteen 
miles from this place, near Cole's store, and came in under Captain 
Bryan this (Thursday) afternoon in a terrible rain storm, accompanied 
by thunder and lightning, tearing up trees and rocks, and filling up the 
creeks, so as to render them impassable two hours after our wagons had 
passed over. 

Captain Bryan and Gravely, Lieutenant Shriver, and all the officers , 
rendered every assistance in their power, and deserve the confidence of 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 67 

their commander. We captured twenty-two men, mostly with arms in 
their hands, besides several horses and mules. Most of the arms were 
worthless and were destroyed. 

I have the honor to be your obedient servant, 

C. E. MOSS. 
Lieut. Col. 1st Iowa Cav.. Com'd'g Post. 
To Brig. Gen. James Totten, Jefferson City. 

Hon. William M. Wilson, now residing at Osceola, Iowa, a1 
that time a corporal of Company D, thus describes the light : 

' ' Some of the men went to the barn to sleep, and some were 
in the parlor of the hotel, and others on the kitchen floor. 
Colonel Moss, Lieutenant Barnes, Corporal Shannon and my- 
self were upstairs. Moss and Barnes in a bed, Shannon and 1 
on the floor. We knew nothing of the approach of the rebels 
until they opened fire on our stable guard. We had no pickets 
out ; the people assured Colonel Moss that there were no rebels 
or bushwhackers in the country, and he believed them. 

' ' Soon after the firing began the house was surrounded, and 
we supposed there were at least seventy-five rebels, from th« 
noise they made in firing into the windows and calling out, 
" Surrender I Surrender!"" As soon as we could get read^. 
Lieutenant Barnes, Shannon and I opened tire on the crowd 
with our revolvers from the windows in the upper story. This 
fire was quickly returned and Barnes and Shannon were 
wounded. We emptied our revolvers and by that time the 
rebels retreated. We then went down stairs to look after our 
wounded men. 

' ' Badly wounded as he was. Lieutenant Barnes was in the 
saddle all that day, engaged in scouring the country. ' ' 

The following account of the expedition and engagement is 
furnished by the late Captain Thomas H. Barnes, Company K : 

''In April, 1862, Lieutenant Colonel Moss, of the First Iowa 
Cavalry, with a part of Companies D and K of his regiment, 
Cominmy I) of the Twenty-Sixth Indiana Infantry, and a sec- 
tion of a l)attery, were stationed at Osceola, Missouri. Keports 
coming to him from General Totten, commanding the district, 



68 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

that a rebel force of al)oiit 550 men were in camp at Monte- 
vallo, he determined to rout them, and on the 13th started to 
do so. The writer was in command of the advance sruard of 
25 men, made up from the two cavalry companies. We broke 
camp at daylight and marched the entire day, and at night^ — 
having missed our way — we found ourselves on the Montevallo 
and Fort Scott road, about four miles from Montevallo and in 
its rear. We reached the town about nine p. m., from a direc- 
tion we were not expected. The advance charged the town at 
once, causing a general stampede and a lively getting out of 
there by the Johnnies, when we went into camp for the night 
in a hotel, corralling our horses in the yard that surrounded the 
barn and house. Before daylight the Johnnies returned and 
renewed the scrimmage, keeping it up until daylight, when 
they retreated, after killing James H. Whitford and Oscar 
Crumb, of Company K, and severely wounding the writer in 
the hips and tilling his eyes with fine broken glass by shooting 
buckshot through a window, the effect of which is to destroy 
his sight. [This narrative is written at his dictation.] Also 
wounding Sergeant J. A. Lyon, now Auditor of Iowa, in the 
arm and shoulder ; private Tupper in the arm ; private Stone 
in the leg, from which he died ; E. Shannon in leg and finger ; 
and Jacob Hursh in the face. Sergeant J. A. Lyon and the 
other men were wounded while fighting in the yard. 

' ' During the engagement two of our men were taken pris- 
oners and carried off'. My command being reinforced to 60 
men, we gave chase in order to recapture these two men before 
the rel)s had time to hang them to a jack oak, and pursued to 
Nevada, where we learned they had separated and a portion of 
them were in our rear. We took the back track to Montevallo, 
and all along the way could be seen, occasionally, a single 
horseman on some eminence as a look-out, who would disappear 
l^efore we could reach him. We managed to - take in' one of 
them, who claimed to be a physician, and therefore a non-com- 
))atant. He was very indignant, saying we did not treat his 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 69 

profession with due courtesy. The writer informed him that 
he also was a physician and desired his company, then disarmed 
him, tied his legs together under his horse, and taking his 
Ijridle rein to prevent his horse running away, resumed the 
march. 

' ' The Captain was very reticent until we reached Clear creek, 
when he showed agitation and evident signs of fear. He asked, 
Where are you going i To which I answered, Montevallo ; 
when he informed me we could never get there over that road, 
as an amljush had been prepared for us, and the road barri- 
caded at a spot where they could have a raking fire at us for 
half a mile or more, designed to kill every mother's son of us. 
I drew from him the fact that this creek could be crossed 
about two miles below, where there was a private ford, and 
turned the head of the column to the right in the direction of 
this ford, leaving a detail to make a feint on the ambuscaded 
road, which enabled us over the new route to make Montevallo, 
reaching there in the night, finding it in flames. Colonel Moss 
informing me he had fired the town to light us on our way in. 
We here found also the two men that were captured and run 
off, they having made their escape. " 

May 2d, Colonel Warren, with a detachment of tw^o hundred 
men and a section of Battery F, Second Missouri Light Ar- 
tillery, left camp on a scout to Marais des Cygnes river ; re- 
turned on the 11th with thirty prisoners and a quantity of pow- 
der and lead found buried in the vicinity. 

On May 15th a forage train, about four miles from Butler, 
was fired upon by a band of bushwhackers, and three men 
killed and one wounded. The names of those killed were J. 
H. Bird and Andrew Foust, Company D, and Martin Meredith, 
Company E. On the 16th, Dexter Stephens, Company I, was 
killed by guerillas. On the 27th, a forage train from Osceola 
was attacked and W. G. Harback killed, and Josiah Cameron 
and Michael Higgins mortally wounded — all of Company C. 



70 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY, 

SKIRMISH AT LOTSPEACH FARM, 
Near Wadesburgh, Cass Co., Mo. 

In June and July, thejnotorious W. C. Quantrel, with his 
band of outlaws, put in an appearance to take part in the mur- 
ders and pillage of this section. July 8th, a detachment con- 
sisting of details from Companies A, G and H, of one hundred 
men, under Lieutenant Reynolds, Company A, left Clinton for 
a scout into Cass county. On the morning of the 9th they en- 
countered Quantrel and his l^and of about two hundred on the 
Lotspeach farm in Cass county, strongly posted in timber. 
After two ineffectual attempts to dislodge them. Lieutenant 
Reynolds with his command returned to Clinton with a loss of 
three wounded, D. W. Scott and A. Rudolph, Company G, and 
George Warson, Company A. Warson was mortally wounded, 
and died the next day at the Gates farm near the ])attlefield. 
The detachment arrived at Clinton on the 9th at f. m. 

ENGAGEMENT AT BIG CREEK CLIFFS, 
Near Pleasant Hill, Cass Co., Mo. 

On the morning of the 10th, at live o'clock. Major Gower, 
with detachments from Companies A and G, five commissioned 
officers and 75 men, left Clinton and arrived at the Lotspeach 
farm, (in the vicinity of the skirmish of the day before,) at 
eleven a. m. At this place they were joined by a detachment 
of 65 men of the First Iowa Cavalry from Butler, under the 
command of Captain W. H. Ankeny, Company M, Lieuten- 
ants D, C. Dinsmore, Company I, and D. C. Mclntyre, Com- 
pany L; a detachment of 65 men, from Harrisonville, of the 
Seventh Missouri Cavalr}% in command of Captain Martin ; 
and afterward by a detachment of 60 men of the First Missouri 
Cavalry, from Warrensburg, in command of Captain Miles Ke- 
hoe and Lieutenant White. It was ascertained that Quantrel 
and his ])and, (estimated at 250 men,) had left their camp on 
Sugar creek, about four p. m. on the 9th. At two p. m. their 
trail was discovered, and active pursuit commenced l)y our 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 71 

force. Leavincr Rose Hill on the west, it took a northwesterly 
route up the bottom land of Big creek, a branch of Grand 
river. At seven p. m. it camped on the farm of a Mr. Horns- 
by, having marched a distance of fifty miles. Quantrel and his 
men had taken dinner at this place. Captain Kehoe, in disre- 
gard of positive orders, left camp the next morning with his 
command, for the purpose of ' ' cleaning Quantrel out' ' before 
the balance of the command should engage him. As usual in 
such cases, the *' other man " was the one who was "cleaned 
out." Coming upon Quantrel about three miles west of the 
town of Pleasant Hill, Captain Kehoe was ambushed, and his 
advance guard killed, with the exception of Lieutenant White. 
Captain Kehoe made an inglorious retreat, leaving his dead 
upon the field. 

It is believed that this premature engagement prevented the 
capture of Quantrel and his entire band. On crossing the road 
leading from Pleasant Hill to Independence, Lieutenant Mcln- 
tyre, Company L, with 50 men, was sent with an ambulance 
containing fifty Philadelphia rifles with ammunition through 
the timlier. on the road leading to Independence, with instruc- 
tions to march into the field upon the west side of the timber, 
to l)e within supporting distance, and to cut off' any retreat 
which the band might make. The command then proceeded to 
Sears' farm, where Captain Kehoe had been repulsed. 

This farm is situated on the western borders of Big creek. 
The land in the vicinity is exceedingly rough and rocky, and 
large masses of rock project from the high, rough banks of the 
creek. From this fact the name of Big Creek Cliffs is given 
this locality. It was a most admirable position for defense. 
At this farm our force came upon the guerillas, who at once 
retreated down a • ' wood road '' leading to the creek. Quantrel 
had chosen this place for battle and prepared his ambush, l)ut 
the First Iowa Cavalry, led by Lieutenant John McDermott, 
Company G, swept down on him like a whirlwind, and in less 
than thirty minutes his band was scattered in all directions. 



72 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

Some were seen mounted two on a horse in their anxiety to 
escape from the "boys,'" who had followed them like sleuth 
hounds. The loss of the First Iowa Cavalry was two killed, 
James Beecroft and Suel Dodge, Company G, and ten wound- 
ed— D. A. Kerr, Adjutant First Battalion; J, T. Foster, Ser- 
geant Major First Battalion ; Henry L. Dashiel, Quartermaster 
Sergeant First Battalion ; Lieutenant R. M. Reynolds and Geo. 
W. Collins, Company A — Collins was mortally wounded and 
died soon afterward ; Lieutenant E, S. Foster, Jeremiah Bivins, 
Louis Scherrer, James H. Stewart, Company G ; and Erdix 
C. Eastman, Company K. Total number of the command 
killed, 9 ; total number wounded, 20. The loss of the guerillas 
was 18 killed and 25 wounded. Everything was abandoned in 
their haste to get away, Quantrel's saddle-bags, containing 
among other things the muster roll of his band, was captured. 
Being present on the field, the writer speaks from personal 
knowledge in reference to the afi'air. The greatest bravery was 
exhibited by the troops engaged, and they appeared to be as 
well versed in bushwhacking tactics as did the bushwhackers 
themselves. 

Following is the report of Additional Assistant Surgeon 
Lothrop, who was present during the engagement : 

I have the honor to report the following list of the killed and 
wounded in the engagement at Big Creek Clitfs. Cass county, Missouri. 
July 11th. 1862. commencing abovit eleven o'clock a. m. and continuing- 
about thirty minutes. 

First Iowa Cavalry. 

David A. Kerr. Adjutant Second Battalion, right arm near shoulder, 
severely. 

Joseph T. Foster. Sergeant Major Second Battalion, right forearm, 
not severely. 

Henry L. Dashiel. Quartermaster Sergeant Second Battalion, right 
chest, upper lobe of right lung, dangerously. 

Company A. 

Robert M. Reynolds, First Lieutenant, scalp wound above forehead, 
slight. 

George W. Collins, chest, both lungs, fatally — has since died. 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 73 

Company G. 
E. S. Foster, Second Lieutenant, left wrist and arm, not severely. 
Jeremiah Bivins, private, right thigh, near the groin, severely. 
Louis Seherrer, private, right hand, slightly. 
James H. Stewart, private, right hand, slightly. 
James W. Beecroft, private, killed. 
Suel Dodge, private, killed- 

Company K. 
Erdix C. Eastman, private, left thigh. 

First Missouri Cavalry. 
Company A. 
Henry Robins, private, right shoulder, severely. 
Herman Fribsha, private, left thigh, not severely. 
Frederic Zanzel. private, left hand, by the bursting of a Colt's car- 
bine. 

William Schenelzer, private, left thigh, slightly. 
Jacob Schuldt, private, right shoulder, severely. 
John Schuldt, private, left thigh, slightly. 

Company C. 

Miles Kehoe, Captain, right shoulder, not severely. 
William L. Bell, private, left elbow, not severely. 
Abram Brokow, private, neck and face, not severely. 
Elijah White, Corporal, George Darkin, Corporal, Richard Masters, 
private. William Trumpee, private, and G. H. Walker, private, killed. 

Company D. 
Antoine Hannonzine, private, left cheek and tongue, severely. 
William Ritcher, private, killed. 

Seventh Missouri Cavalry. 
Company — . 
Samuel Nicholas, killed. 

Respectfully. CHAS. H. LOTHROP. 

AdcVl AssH Surgeon 1st Iowa Cavalry. 

SKIRMISH ON CLEAR CREEK. ST. CLAIR CO., MO. 

August 2d. detachments from Companies B, E, L and M, 

under the command of Captain J. M. Caldwell, Company I. 

sent out from Butler to capture some cattle belonging to rel)- 

els. encountered on the wooded border of Clear creek, a l)ranch 
10 



74 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

of the Osage river, about two miles distant from the little town 
of Taborville, St. Clair county, a band of guerillas said to num- 
ber three or four hundred men, well mounted and armed, under 
the notorious outlaw Glowers. A short and spirited engage- 
ment ensued. The enemy had chosen a seemingly secure posi- 
tion, and after an ineffectual attempt to dislodge him, (being 
greatly outnumliered, ) Captain Caldwell withdrew his force to 
the prairie ; having in the meantime sent to Butler for rein- 
forcements. A detachment under Captain H. H. Heath, Com- 
})any L, was at once sent out to reinforce Captain Caldwell. 

The following is Captain Heath's report of the engagement 
which ensued : • • I discovered a Ijody of several hundred reb- 
els in ambush on the heights of Clear creek, about two miles 
froni Taborville, in St. Clair county, supposed to be under 
command of the celebrated Colonel Coffee. (?) They had cho- 
sen an apparently secure position, one which to attack success- 
fully required the utmost confidence of a leader in his men. 
We were but 75 strong, one-half the joint command being with 
Captain Caldwell nearly a mile distant. The pickets of the 
enemy were first driven in, they firing upon us as we advanced. 
A charge upon their am])ush was inmiediately ordered, the ene- 
my driven from his cover and forced to a speedy retreat, after 
considerable loss in killed and wounded. Captain Caldwell 
subsequently came up in time to fire a few parting shots as the 
i'el)els fled from the heights to the creek and to their horses be- 
yond. '"' '" '■■' We lost several horses killed, among 
which was my own. In this engagement were many who had 
never been under fire before, but their courage was manifested 
under a most terrific fire of musketry within a few paces of 
them, and from an enemy for the most part concealed within a 
thickly studded ambush of undergrowth, and who could only 
be discovered as they rose and poured forth their murdei'ous 
fire upon us. Lieutenants Bereman, Company E, Battalion Ad- 
jutant, Joseph L. P^dsall. and Sergeant Dunham, Company M, 
particulai'ly distinguished themselves as brave and worthy offi- 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 75 

cers. ' ' Our loss in this engagement was four killed and twelve 
wounded, as follows : Albert C. Alford, Caleb C. Botsford, 
Michael J. Driscol, Company L, and Elisha C. Roland, Com- 
pany M, killed ; Captain H. H. Heath, George Jewett, 
Samuel Tate, William E. Utterburg and Andrew Miller, Com- 
pany L, Thomas E. Francis, Charles Hil)ber, William H. Todd, 
George T. Nettle, Washington H. Rigby, Martin Jourdan and 
Edward Ware, Company M, wounded. The loss of the enemy 
was eleven killed ; number of wounded not known. 

Colonel Warren with a considerable force arrived the next 
day, but finding the eneni}* had lied and were beyond his reach, 
the command returned to camp. 

About this time there was a determined effort on the part of 
the rebels to concentrate their forces and '•'take in'- the First 
Iowa Cavalry located at these posts. In anticipation of this 
movement. Colonel Warren ordered all the prisoners heretofore 
confined at Butlei" sent to Jefferson City. August 6th the pris- 
oners, under the escort of Company D, arrived at Clinton. 
Here all the available men of Companies A and D, under the 
command of Captain McQueen, were ordered to escort the pris- 
onei's to Sedalia. From thence they (the prisoners) were to be 
transported by railroad to Jefferson Cit}. Company B had 
been previously ordered from Osceola to Butler. Now the 
post at Osceola was ordered evacuated, and on the 6th Compa- 
nies C and H, with two companies of the Missouri State militia, 
arrived at Clinton from that post. In obedience to orders. 
Colonel Warren evacuated the post at Butler on Thursday night, 
August Tth, and retreated to Clinton. His train, while cross- 
ing Deep Water creek, was tired upon and one horse killed. 

Soon after the arrival of the different companies at Clinton, 
Colonel Warren, with a large portion of the regiment, marched 
northwesterly from Clinton to reinforce Brigadier General 
Blunt, who was threatened by a large force of the enemy under 
Colonel Coffee. On the 16th the l)attle of Lone Jack, a small 



76 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

village in the southeastern part of Jackson covinty, about sixty 
ifiiles from Clinton, was fought, at which place the Missouri 
State militia, under Major Foster, were defeated. General 
Blunt and Colonel Warren coming up soon after, the rebels re- 
treated and a brisk pursuit followed, but without result. In 
this pursuit after Coffee Colonel Warren and his command 
marched about three hundred miles. 

On the night of the 16th, liy order of Brigadier General 
Totten, that portion of the regiment remaining at Clinton, un- 
der Captain William Thompson, Company E, marched to Se- 
dalia. There was much excitement and confusion attendant 
upon the breaking up of the camp, and the mareh was a forced 
and confused one ; it being made, with but a single short halt, 
between seven o'clock in the evening and nine the following 
morning — a distance of forty-five miles. 

At this time Lexington was also threatened, and the regiment 
was ordered to reinforce the troops at that place. No attack 
was made upon the town, and in a few days the regiment re- 
turned to Sedalia, at which place it remained until the 25th, 
when it was ordered to reoccupy the post at Clinton. It arrived 
at Clinton on the 26th, and went into camp at "Camp Warren,'"' 
about three miles north of the town, where it remained until 
September 20th, scouting in Henry and the adjoining counties. 
Here the regiment received orders from department headquar- 
ters to report to Brigadier General James G. Totten, at Spring- 
field. General Totten was at that time in command of the 
First Division of the Army of Southwest Missouri. 

All members of the l)attalion organization and of the regi- 
mental band were ordered mustered out of the service. 

As the I'egiment at this time was about to enter upon a differ- 
ent and more extended field of duty, it will be proper here to 
note the changes and additions among the officers up to this 
time. 

Colonel Fitz Henry Warren had been promoted to Brigadier 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 77 

General, United States Volunteers ; Lieutenant Colonel Moss 
had resigned ; Captain James O. Gower, Company F, promoted 
to Major and Colonel ; Ca})tain William M. G. Torrence, Com- 
pany A, promoted to Major, and resigned in May, 1862 ; Cap- 
tain P. Gad Bryan, Captain Company D, promoted to Major 
and Lieutenant Colonel ; Captain Daniel H. Anderson, Com- 
pany H, and Captain J. W. Caldwell, Company I, promoted 
to Majors. Doctor Charles H. Lothrop had been commissioned 
Additional Assistant Surgeon, May 14th, 1862, and reported 
for duty. Adjutant J. C. Stone, Quartermaster Martin L. 
Morris. Battalion Adjutants D. A. Kerr, James M. Bryan, 
Henry R. Roljinson, and Battalion Quartermasters John A. 
Landis, Charles A. Case and William H. Muzzy, had been 
mustered out as extra Lieutenants. Henry L. Dashiel, private 
Company H, was promoted to Regimental Commissary. 

Among the line officers were the following : 

Company A — First Lieutenant A. G. McQueen promoted to 
Captain ; Second Lieutenant R. M. Reynolds and Sergeant 
John A. Bishop to First and Second Lieutenants. 

Company C — Second Lieutenant Albert F. Dean had re- 
signed, and Sergeant Thomas Jones had l)een promoted to the 
vacancy. 

Company D — First Lieutenant J. D. Jenks promote<l to 
Captain, and Second Lieutenant William R. Shriver and Ser- 
geant George M. Walker to First and Second Lieutenants. 

Company E — First Lieutenant William P. McClure and Sec- 
ond Lieutenant Thomas A. Bereman had resigned, and Ser- 
ofeants Silas R. Nug-en and Sumner R. Marshall had been 
[)romoted to the vacancies. 

Company F — First Lieutenant James R. Elliott had been 
promoted to C^aptain, but was not mustered, and soon after 
resigned. Second Lieutenant Philip E. Shaver was promoted 
to First Lieutenant and Captain, Sergeant Charles Dustin to 
Second and First Lieutenant, and Sergeant Jacob Hursh to 
Second Lieutenant. 



78 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

Company H — First Lieutenant Riley Westcoatt had been pro- 
moted to Captain ; Second Lieutenant William H. Whisenand 
and Sergeant Albert U. McCormick to First and Second Lieu- 
tenants. 

Company I — First Lieutenant David C. Dinsmore had 1 )een 
promoted to Captain, and Sergeant Amos Dille}^ to First Lieu- 
tenant. 

Company M — Captain William H. Ankeny had resigned. 
Second Lieutenant James P. Crosby promoted to Captain, and 
Sergeant Edwin A. Dunham to Second Lieutenant. 

At this place, ''Camp Warren," Colonel Warren received 
his commission as Brigadier General L^nited States Volunteers, 
and bidding a kind and heartfelt adieu in an address to his old 
comrades of the First Iowa Cavalry, with tears he could not 
suppress, he departed for another field of duty. 

General Warren never forgot his old regiment in all its years 
of service, and at the time the regiment suffered the outrageous 
treatment at the hands of that long-haired ''hero of the lash," 
in Texas, General Warren was among the first to espouse its 
cause, and personally requested the Secretary of War that it l)e 
relieved from duty with General Custer, and mustered out of 
the service at the earliest possible opportunity. 

Following is a copy of the order mustering out the members 
of the battalion organization, also of the regimental band : 

Headquarters First Iowa Cavalky. 
Camp Warren. Clinton. Mo.. Sept. 1st. 1862. 
Regimental Order No. 52. 

In pursuance of General Order No. 91. Headquarters War Depart- 
ment, Washington. Battalion Adjutants, Lieutenants David A. Kerr. 
James M. Bryan and Joseph L. Edsall, are mustered out of service as 
such from and after this date. 

Also the following members of the non-commissioned staff (battallion 
oi-ganization) , who are ordered to report to the commanders of their 
respective companies for duty : 

Joseph T. Foster, Sergeant Major, First Battalion, Company B. 
James L. King. Sergeant Major. Second Battalion. Company C. 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 79 

John B. Aiken, Sergeant Major, Third Battalion, Company L. 
Dexter A. Buck, Commissarj' Major, First Battalion, Company B. 
Daniel Easley, Commissary Major, Second Battalion, Company H. 
W. W. Fluke. Commissary Major. Third Battalion. Company E. 
Sam'l C. Dickerson. Q. M. Major, First Battalion, Company F. 
Henry L. Dashiel. Q. M. Major, Second Battalion, Company H. 
Hiram A. Park, Q. M. Major, Third Battalion, Company L. 
John Smitz, Saddler Major, First Battalion, Company F. 
Wm. Applegate, Saddler Major, Second Battalion, Company D. 
M. C. Chase. Saddler Major, Third Battalion, Company E. 
Wm. Mann. Veterinary Major, Second Battalion. Company H. 
Otto Rothlander. Veterinary Major. Third Battalion, Company G. 
The following members of the band of the First Iowa Cavalry are 
also mustered out of service from and after the date of this order : 

First Class — John Wanneshiek, David W. Forbes, W. Clarke Hall 
Hiram J. Dunwell. 

Second Class — Henry M. Batter, Geox-ge T. Davison, Richard W. 
Brown. John M. Caldwell. 

Third Class — John Rule. John L. Marshall, Louis Keen, Gamaliel 
B. Williams, Henry D. Keller, Sylvester Britell. 

And the following members belonging to the third class of the regi- 
mental band are hereby ordered to their respective companies for duty: 
(jeorge F. Bantz. Company B ; Albert G. Cunningham, Company A. 
By order of JAMES O. GOWER. 

T. A. Bereman. Adft Reg' I. Major Coni'd'g Reg't. 

ON THE MARCH TO SPRINGFIELD, MO. 

On the morning of Septemlier 20th, all the sick who were 
unable to march having been ordered to Sedalia, in obedience 
to orders the regiment, Colonel Gower in command, left Camp 
Warren and took np its line of march to Springiield, distant 
one him<lred miles south of Clinton, by the way of Osceola, 
Humansville, among the Osage hills, Stockton, formerly called 
Fremont, crossing a portion of the Osage range of mountains, 
to Melville. On the 24th it went into camp on a high ridge 
near Sac river, about twenty miles from Springfield, to aAvait 
orders. On the morning of the 27th, orders having been re- 



80 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

ceived, it marched, arriving at Springfield about nine o'clock, 
and camped about one mile from town. 

INCIDENTS OF THE MARCH. 

At the crossing of Grand river, two ambulances in charge of 
Surgeon Cochran, with escort, returning from conveying the 
sick to Sedalia, were fired upon by bushwackers. The fire was 
returned, and the Ijushwhackers lost one horse killed and one 
man wounded. No loss on our part. Near this place, Corporal 
Van Hook, Company A, while absent from the command, was 
wounded b}- bushwhackers. At Humansville the regiment 
marched in the direction of Greenfield for the purpose of inter- 
cepting a band of Coffee's guerillas. They were not found. 
On the 26th a scouting party was ordered out, going as far as 
Sodom's mills, near a place called Turnback, in the southwest- 
ern part of Dade county — a noted locality for bushwhackers 
and outlaws. The scout returned to camp about eight o'clock 
in the evening of the same day with three prisoners, having 
traveled thirty-two miles. The aggregate number of miles 
traveled on this circuitous march to Springfield was 148. 

Here the transportation was cut down to the regulation 
amount — one wagon for field and staff, one for each company, 
and one wagon and one aml)ulance for the hospital department. 
The officers were allowed eighty pounds of baggage, and pri- 
vates what could be carried in their saddle valises, preparatory 
to active operations in the field. It was then assigned to the 
Second Brigade, First Division, Army of Southwest Missouri ; 
Bi-igadier General John M. Schofield commanding the army, 
Brio-adier General James Totten commandino^ division, and 
Colonel William E. McE. Dye, Twentieth Iowa Infantry, com- 
manding brigade. 

On the 29th the regiment marched and camped about ten 
miles southwest fi'om Springfield, near the town of Little York, 
on Pond Spring creek. The camp was called Camp McClellan. 
It was situated on a range of the Ozark mountains — the altitude 




m. i 



¥IR&INIE LDTHRDP, 

VEUVE CHARLES H LOTHROP. 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 81 

being 175 feet above Springfiekl. The highest portion of this 
range is between this camp and Springfield. 

October 1st, the regiment with brigade and division marched 
southward to unite with the Second and Third Divisions under 
Generals Blunt and Brown, in an attack upon a rebel force of 
13,000 men under General Cooper, near Newtonia, Newton 
county. The command marched by the way of Buck Prairie 
and Mt. Vernon, Lawrence county, and on the 2d camped 
about ten miles southwest of Mt. Vernon, near the fountain 
head of Center creek. Here all the sick were ordered to be 
left, and the command to march witliout transportation. Leav- 
ing camp on the afternoon of the 3d, it marched all night with- 
out a halt. During the first part of the night there was a clear 
sky, and the full moon shone upon tlie glistening arms of the 
serried column as it pursued its silent and rapid march. About 
midnight the scene changed and the poetic portion of the march 
ended. A storm came on just as the army reached a dense for- 
est. Then marching through gloom and mud and rain the 
remainder of the night, it passed through a small town called 
Jollification, six miles from Newtonia, about sunrise on the 
mornino" of the 4th. On arrivino- at Newtonia, about eight 
o'clock, it was found that the enemy was retreating. The regi- 
ment with the Twentieth Iowa Infantry engaged them in a shar}) 
skirmish, but with no loss to the regiment. The design was to 
attack the enemy simultaneously from three difl'erent directions. 
The movements of the army had been previously arranged for 
this purpose. The Second Division under General Brown fail- 
ing to come up at the appointed time, on account of the storm 
and darkness, gave the enemy an opportunity' to escape, thus 
making a failure of the attempt to capture this rebel force. 
Newtonia was a small, well built town of about five hvuidred 
inhabitants, situated upon an extensive ))rairie, and at that time 
nearly deserted. The command went into camp about two miles 
from the town ; scouting parties Avere sent out and reconnois- 

11 



S2 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

ances made in all directions, and the enemy found to l)e in full 
retreat. 

The army remained here until the 9th. In the meantime the 
transportation arrived from the camp on Center creek. At ten 
o'clock on the morning of the 9th, -in a severe storm, the army 
commenced tlie march to Cassville. Marching in a southeast- 
erly direction, Shoal or Oliver's creek was crossed near a small 
town called Gad Fly, in Barry county, about twenty miles from 
the Arkansas State line. It had continued to rain heavil}^ all 
day, and the command went into camp near the town, thor- 
oughly drenched ; the rain still falling in torrents, and the 
transportation, on account of the almost impassable condition 
of the road, was far in the rear. It, however, came up during 
the night and the next day. 

On the morniiig of the 1 2th the march was continued ; I'each- 
ing Cassville at al:)out three o'clock in the afternoon the army 
went into camp a short distance north of the town. C/assville, 
the county seat of Barry county, is situated on War Eagle 
creek, a branch of White river, about twelve miles from the 
Arkansas State line, and twenty miles from Pea Ridge, one of 
a number of broken plateaus of the Ozark range of mountains. 

It was at this town that the celebrated l)attle of Pea Ridge 
coimnenced. Near here sixty of our brave comrades lie buried 
in one grave, and single graves are scattered here and there 
over this whole vicinity — monuments of that desperate engage- 
ment with and victory over the cohorts of slavery and re])ellion. 

On the IHth the regiment was transferred to the Second Brig- 
ade, Third Division, Army of the Frontier, Brigadiei- General 
F. J. Herron commanding the Division. On the ITth camp 
was removed to McMurtry's Springs, the fountain head of Flat 
rreek, a])ont four miles from our camp. On the next morning 
the connnand marched by the way of the old Santa Fe mail 
route, passing through Keitsville in the lead mining region, an 
almost deserted town, and c;unped on Sugar creek, about seven 
miles from Elk Horn tavern, in Benton county, Arkansas. This 
\vas the road taken l^y Generals Price and Van Dorn in their 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 83 

retreat from the pursuit of the victorious arm}" of General Cur- 
tis after the ))attle of Pea Ricloe. 

Tlie road for a distance of four or tive miles is situated be- 
tween two high ridges of mountains. Large trees were felled 
across the narrow defile in quick succession to impede the pur- 
suit, and as rapidly removed hy the pursuing army in its efforts 
to capture the retreating forces. The marks of that memoral)le 
retreat and pursuit were everj^where visible. 

On the evening of the 20th the command left cam}) and 
marched all night, (passing General Blunfs forces during the 
night,) and reached Elk Horn tavern about sunrise of the 21st. 
Halting here for a short time, it marched in an easterly direc- 
tion, and at night camped on the banks of White river. Cross- 
ing the river on the morning of the 22d, we were again among 
the high, rugged wilds of the Ozark range, marching over high 
peaks and through deep ravines. After passing War Eagle 
Mills, situated upon War Eagle creek, the line of march was 
up a high, steep peak. Arri^'ing at the summit a most beauti- 
ful scene was presented to our view. Many, forgetting the 
realities of war, instinctively stopped to gaze in admiring won- 
der upon the scenery which nature had spread out in such rich 
profusion liefore us. In the distance stretched another range of 
mountains, peak after peak rising like so many towers on a 
huge fortification, while at its l^ase the War Eagle river made a 
graceful bend ; then turning again in its course, it came sweep- 
ing around nearly at our feet below ; embracing a beautiful 
green valley, dotted with farm houses and interspersed with 
fields of ripening grain ; while large t)rchards, laden Avith fruit, 
stood prominently forth in this enchanting scene. ''Moses, 
when standing on the top of Mount Pisgah, looking over into 
the promised land, gazed not on a scene half so lovel}^'" 

The line of march continued among the peaks of these rug- 
ged hills until the highest point was reached, when a descent 
Avas made to the Atdle}' beyond. The command halted at a 
hamlet at the foot of the mountains called Rip Van Winkle's 



84 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

Saw Mills, about five o'clock p. m. , to rest and feed our weary 
animals. At about seven o'clock p. m. we were again in our 
saddles and in quick pursuit of the enemy. Rip Van Winkle's 
Saw Mill is situated about ten miles from Huntsville, in Madi- 
son county. The little village had been partially destroyed by 
the enemy in their retreat before us. The line of march was 
here changed to a northwesterly direction. Our little army at 
this time was composed of the Nineteenth and Twentieth 
Iowa Infantry, Twentieth Wisconsin Infantry, Seventh Mis- 
souri Mounted Infantry (militia), one company Second Mis- 
souri Light Artillery, one battalion First Missouri Cavalry, 
and the First Iowa Cavalry. An all night march was again 
made. Reaching the banks of White river al)out three o'clock 
on the morning of the 23d, the command halted for rest until 
daybreak, at which time it crossed the river, and was again on a 
forced march In pursuit of the enemy. On arriving at Worth- 
ington, also called Mudtown, near which place it was reported 
that the enemy had made pi'eparations for a battle, it was found 
that they were again on the • • skedaddle' ' for the ' ' Sunny 
South." Worthington or Mudtown is a small town, situated 
about two miles south of Cross Hollows, on the road leading 
from Bentonville to Huntsville. It was at this place that 
forty Missouri soldiers were poisoned, at the time General Cur- 
tis passed through it in pursuit of General Price. In retalia- 
tion for this dastardly act, every house in the town was l)urned, 
the chimneys remaining as monuments of the inhuman act of 
the mhabitants. The command now marched in a northerly 
direction, })assing through C^'oss Hollows, and camped (on the 
23d) a]>out four miles from that place, at Valley Springs, on 
Spring creek, in Benton county. This place was the camp 
and rendezvous of Generals Price's, Van Dorn's and McCul- 
lough's armies during the previous winter. The distance trav- 
eled during this fatiguing march of three days and nights, over 
a mountainous region of country, was one hundred miles. The 
name '• Cross Hollows " is given to a place on the old Santa Fe 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 85 

stage route, where two deep rocky ravines cross each other. 
It is a natural fortification and well nigh impregnable. 

The enemy finally '• ' stopped running, ' ' about six miles south 
of Fayetteville, and about thirty miles distant from our camp 
at Valley Springs. At nine o'clock on the evening of the 27th. 
eight companies of the regiment, with the Seventh Missoui'i 
Mounted Infantry (militia), and a detachment of the First Mis- 
souri Cavalry, under command of General Herron, marched to 
attack a rebel force under General Magruder, on White river, 
about six miles southeast of Fayetteville. On the morning of 
the 28th the command crossed White river at McGuire's Ford, 
and engaged the enemy. After a sharp engagement, lasting 
more than an hour, the enemy were routed, their breakfast cap- 
tured, and a speedy retreat was made toward the Boston moun- 
tains. Companies B, C, G and H of the regiment were ordered 
to pursue. A sharp skirmish ensued, with the loss of one man 
wounded from Company G, name not known. The enemy's 
loss was not known ; two, however, were killed and left on the 
field. The force of the enemy engaged numbered about 3,000. 
Our force numbered 1,000. Soon afterward the command re- 
turned by way of Fayetteville to camp at Valley Springs, 
arriving there on the 29th, having in the meantime marched a 
distance of fifty miles and fought a battle. On the 28tli our 
Quartermaster, Samuel Dickinson, was killed by guerillas, 
while in charge of a detail of ten men, assisting a Union man 
and his family to remove within our lines. On the next day 
Dickinson was l)uried with military honors. At this camp As- 
sistant Surgeon Allen, an accomplished gentleman and genial 
companion, was taken seriously ill and left for his northern 
home, having been granted leave of absence. 

November 2d, the First Battalion of the regiment, under Ma- 
jor J. W. Caldwell, made a retrograde march to Elk Horn tav- 
ern, and camped near the tavern on Pea Ridge battlefield about 
four p. M. It was here the battle raged the fiercest. Thirty- 
nine graves mark the place where the Iowa Ninth made a des- 



S6 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

perate charge upon a rebel battery, and everywhere the relies 
of that terrible conflict were present. 

On the 4th the Second and Third Battalions, with the Sec- 
ond and Third Divisions of the army, came up on a retrograde 
movement into Missouri, by order of Major General Curtis, 
commanding the department. The following were the positions 
of the divisions of the army previous to this time. 

The First Division, Brigadier General James G. Blunt com- 
manding, was in camp at Prairie Creek, six or seven miles from 
Bentonville, on the road leading from Bentonville to Huntsville. 

The Second Division, Brigadier General James G. Totten 
commanding, was in camp at Osage Springs, about live miles 
south of Bentonville, on the same road. 

The Third Division, Brigadier General F. J. Herron com- 
manding, was in camp at Valley Springs, near Cross Hollows. 

The First Division remained on Prairie creek, while the 
Second and Third Divisions, as Ijefore stated, were on a retro- 
grade march into Missouri. The cause of this movement was 
the attack made upon our posts at Clarke's Mills, on the road 
from Springfield to Forsyth, Taney county, and a repent that 
the enemy were marching in force' upon Springfield, and that a 
similar movement was being made upon Hartville, the county 
seat of ^V right county. On the 5th the regiment, with the 
division, passing through Keitsville, camped at Cassville. about 
four o'clock p. M. Here Sergeant Harris, Company H, was 
l)uried with military honors, he having died in an ambulance 
during the march. From Cassville the line of march was to- 
ward Springfield. On the 6th the command marched twenty- 
eight miles and camped on Crane creek, about thirty miles 
distant from Springfield, and remained there until the lOtii. 
when the march toward S]iringfield was continued for about ' 
fifteen miles, to a point about four miles north of Dug Springs, 
from which place the command marched in an easterly direc- 
tion, and camped on James river, a branch of White river. At 
this camp private Martin, Company L, died, and was buried 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 87 

with military honors. On the 11th it camped at Ozark in a 
cold rain storm. 

Ozark is a Httle town of some twenty families, pleasantly 
situated upon a high liluff on Finley creek, a branch of the 
James river. Here an order was promulgated making our 
al)le and worthy Surgeon, M. B. Cochran, Medical Director of 
the Third Division, Army of the Frontier — a most excellent 
promotion. On the 14th the command marched in a northerly 
direction about fourteen miles to White Oak Springs, the foun- 
t:iin head of Sawyer's creek, in Webster county. 

On the 17th it made a retrograde march, amid mud and a 
cold, drizzling rain, through Ozark, and bivouacked for the 
night in mud and sleet. The transportation could scarcely l)e 
moved on account of the almost impassable condition of the 
roads. 

A portion of the sick were sent to general hospital at Spring- 
held, while the remainder were left at a Mr. Ayer's house in 
Ozark, a most comfortable and hospitable place, in charge of 
Hospital Steward Edwin M. Winters, with two nurses and one 
cook detailed as assistants. 

On the 2 2d, after marching continuously through nuid and 
min, the command camped on the Wilson Creek battle field, at 
Twin Springs, called ^' Camp Curtis." Here the regiment was 
transferred from the Second to the First Brigade. 

The Second Division of the army, under the connnand of 
Colonel Daniel Huston, Seventh Missouri Cavalry, (General 
Totten havino; 1)een ordered to St. Louis as a Avitness before a 
court" martial,) was in camp at ''Camp Lyon," about twelve 
miles distant, near McCullough's store, on the Springtield and 
Cassville road. Al)out this time, General Schofield ])eing ab- 
sent. General Herron assumed connnand of the Second and 
Third Divisions of the army. On the 25th all the available 
men of the regiment were ordered out on an expedition to Ycll- 
ville, Marion county, Arkansas. They returned on the 29th, 



88 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

having burned a portion of the town, paroled 150 prisoners, 
and marched 250 miles. 

During the time the Second and Third Divisions were march- 
ing and countermarching in the rain, sleet and mud in Missouri, 
the First Division, under General Blunt, had left its camp near 
Bentonville, and forced the enemy, at Fayetteville and Cane 
Hill, in Washington county, to vacate its position and retire to 
Van Buren. on the Arkansas river, beyond the Boston moun- 
tains, while General Blunt with his division was occupying the 
vacated position at Cane Hill, a small town situated in the Bos- 
ton mountain range, a hundred and twenty miles distant from 
the Second and Third Divisions, in camp on Wilson's creek, in 
Missouri. The enemy, under Generals Thomas, Hindman, 
Marmaduke, Rains and Frost, numbering more than 25,000 
men, were concentrated at Van Buren ; while General Blunt, 
with his small division of between four and five thousand men, 
was less than twenty-five miles distant. It was seemingly an 
easy task for General Hindman to fall upon General Blunt and 
crush him before any reinforcements could possibly reach that 
little army at Cane Hill. But General Hindman was '■'reckon- 
ing without his host." He. however, set his army in motion, 
and on Decem))er 5th and 6th it was skirmishing with General 
Blunt's outposts. General Blunt had in the meantime received 
information of the intended attack, and at once ordered General 
Herron to advance with the Second and Third Divisions to his 
support. The order was received at the camp on Wilson's creek 
at nine o'clock on the morning of the 3d, and at twelve o'clock 
the Third Division was in motion, with the Second Division 
following, in a most rapid and unparalleled march to reinforce 
General Blunt in his perilous situation. At three o'clock on 
the afternoon of the 5th, the ami}' was in camp about four 
miles south from Elk Horn tavern, a distance of fifty-six miles 
from ' ' Camp Curtis. ' ' 

On the Oth the command marched at daylight. The First 
and Third Battalions First Iowa Cavalry, under Colonel Gower, 




Capt, RDHERT L, FREEMAN 



COMPANY K. 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. S9 

(the Second having l)een detailed as rear guard for division 
train,) with the Tenth Illinois, Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Mis- 
souri, First Battalion Second Wisconsin, and First Arkansas 
Cavalry, all under command of Colonel Wickersham, Tenth 
Illinois Cavalry, were ordered to reach General Blunt without 
delay. At twelve o'clock midnight this cavalr^^ force, with the 
exception of the First Arkansas Cavalry, which for some reason 
never explained left the command when near Fayetteville, re- 
ported at General Blunt's headquarters, at Cane Hill, near 
Boonsboro. Washington county, Arkansas, having marched 
forty-seven miles, been in the saddle for eighteen consecutive 
hours, and marched a distance of about one hundred and twenty 
miles in three days. Ample provision had l)een made for the 
force — fence rails for our fires, forage for our horses, and 
coffee, hard-tack and — side meat for the inner man. In a short 
time the tired cavalrymen, wrapped in their blankets, were in a 
sound, refreshins; slumber, to be in their saddles and in line of 
l)attle at daylight the next morning. It was soon discovered 
that General Hindman had '• stolen a march ■" on (xeneral Blunt, 
and was endeavoring to crush General Herron in his endeavors 
to reinforce General Blunt. General Blunt at once put his 
arm>' in motion to now reinforce General Herron. Marching 
by the " valley road' ' to Rhea's Mill, at which place he had 
previously parked his large supply train, guarded by a single 
l)rio;ade, he heard the booming of cannon in the direction of 
Fayetteville. In flanking General Blunt, General Hindman 
had unexpectedly fallen upon the army of General Herron, who 
at once gave battle. General Blunt, taking in the situation, 
ordered the cavalry forward and followed with his infantry and 
artillery at a quick pace ; so rapid was his marcli that the last 
live miles were made in one hour. About two o'clock p. m. 
the cavalry struck the left rear of the rebel army in a growth of 
oak timber, upon a ridge on the southern si(k^ of a prairi(^ 
Here the plucky Tenth Illinois Cavalry run their little mountain 

howitzers under the very noses of the rel)el lino of infantry and 
12 



90 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

presented their compliments in a storm of grape and canister. 
The rebel line recoiled, but soon rallied and captured one of the 
howitzers. Lieutenant James M. Simeral, Company L, with 
twenty dismounted men of Companies L and M. recaptured the 
howitzer and brought it off the field. It was a most daring act 
of bravery, ' ' pluck ' ' and ' ' nerve, ' ' for twenty men in the very 
face of an overwhelming force of the enem}^ to recapture the 
gun. Perhaps none except Lieutenant Simeral and a few 
"dare devils" of these companies would have entertained the 
thought of such an exploit for a moment. The location being 
most unfavorable for a cavalry engagement, all the cavalry were 
ordered to take position upon the prairie, and the First Iowa 
Cavalry ordered to support Allen's Battery. That battery 
l)roved to be well able to take care of itself, for guns were never 
worked liettei'. The battery appeared to be in one constant 
sheet of flame, so rapid were the discharges. Three different 
times the rel)els charged it in immense numl)ers from theii' cover 
upon the wooded hillside, and as many times they would waver, 
halt and retreat in the utmost disorder, leaving the field strewed 
with dead and wounded. In this Inittle the regiment lost one 
man. W. H. Fortune, Company A, wounded ; and three men. 

Loyal E. Ballou and James C'hambers, Company K, and , 

captured. 

Diu'ing the night General Hindman mutfled the wheels of his 
artillery and made a most inglorious retreat over the Boston 
mountains, leaving his dead unburied and his wounded to be 
oared for by the Union forces. 

Our entire force engaged in this memoral)le l)attle did not 
exceed 8,000 men. while that of the rebel force exceeded 25,000 
men. (leneral Herron gave battle to this overwhelming force 
with 8,300 men, l)ut was afterward reinforced by General Blunt 
with 5.000 men. resulting in a Waterloo defeat for the rebels. 
Oiu- entire loss in killed, wounded and missing, Avasl,l-i8 — 
l«i7 killed. 798 wounded, and 133 missing. Many of the miss- 
ina' were .-iftei'ward accounted to be amons: the wound(>(l. The 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 91 

loss of the enemy has never been ascertained, but from reliable 
estimates made at the time it was at least 3,000. More than 
1,000 men were killed and Imried on the tield. 

All of our wounded were removed to general field hospitals 
which had been established at Fayetteville. Additional Assist- 
ant Surgeon Lothrop, of the regiment, Avas ordered to take 
charge of one of them, containing eighty-four patients, located 
in a brick church. Fayetteville, the county seat of Washington 
county, was quite a large, well l)uilt town, j)leasantly situated 
among the Boston mountains. Two or three excellent institu- 
tions of learning were located there. The l)attle field is called 
Prairie Grove ;, also (improperly) Fayetteville and Illinois creek. 
It is situated some ten miles southwest from Fayetteville, on 
the road leading from Fayetteville to Cane Hill. The Illinois 
creek, (jr river, a tributary of the Arkansas river, is its north- 
ern boundary line, while a high ridofe cov#ed with timber and 
dense undergroAvth forms the southern boundary. This prairie 
is about one mile wide, and extends in a westerly direction for 
several miles. Portions of it were under cultivation. Allen's 
Battery (one of General Blunt's batteries), with the regiment 
(First Iowa Cavalry) supporting it, were located in one of the 
large fields of corn. A church and a number of farm houses 
were situated in the groves upon the ridge. The chuich used 
as a rebel hospital was called ' ' Prairie Grove Church, ' ' from 
which came the name of the battle field. 

In order that there l)e no more mistakes made as to the time, 
place and results of the battle of Prairie Grove, it is proper to 
state here that the battle of Prairie Grove occurred on Sunday. 
December 7th,' 1862, at a place called Prairie Grove, situated 
on Illinois creek, or river, about ten miles distant to the south- 
west from Fayetteville, Arkansas. 

General Herron, with his little army of 3,300 men, while on 
the march to reinforce General Blunt at Cane Hill, encountered 
on that da}' a rebel force of not less than 25,000 men, under 
Generals Hindman, Marmaduke and others, near thai jjiace. 



92 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

'I'he battle field was selected by General Hindman. General 
HeiTon's army fought this rebel force from about nine o'clock 
in the morning until two o'clock in the afternoon without assist- 
ance. At that time General Blunt- came up with his force of 
5, 000 and then Blunt and Herron jointly continued the tight 
until dark, resulting in a most disastrous defeat, and a rapid 
retreat during the night of what remained of this immense 
rebel force. 

The following is one of General Hindman's orders, issued 
upon that occasion : 

Headquarters First Corps Trans-Mississippi Army. 

In the Field, Decemb.er 4th. 1862. 

Soldiers : — From the commencement to the end of the battle bear in 
mind what I now urg"e upon you : 

First. Never fire because your comrades do. nor because the enemy 
does : nor because you see the enemy ; nor for the sake of firing rapid- 
ly. Always wait till they are certainly within the range of your gun. 
then single out your man. take deliberate aim. as low as the knee, and 
fire. 

Second. When occasion offers, be certain to pick off' the enemy's 
officers, especially the mounted ones, and to kill his artillery horses. 

Third. Do not shout except when you charge the enemy. As a 
general thing, keep silent, that orders may be heard. Obey the orders 
of your officers, but pay no attention to idle rumors, or the words of 
unauthorized persons. 

Fourth. Do not stop with your wounded comrades ; the surgeons 
and infirmai-y cor])s will take care of them ; do you forward and avenge 
them. 

Fifth.. Do not break ranks to plunder. If we whip the enemy, all 
he has will be ours ; if not. the spoil will be of no benefit to us. Plun- 
derers and stragglers will be put to death on the spot. File closers are 
especially charged with this duty. The cavalry in rear will likewise 
attend to it. 

Remember thnt the enemy you engage with has no feelings of mercy 
or kindness tow;ird you. His rankb are made up of Pin Indians, free 
negroes. Southern tories. Kansas jayhawkers and hired Dvitch cut- 
throats. These bloody ruffians have invaded your country ; stolen and 
destroyed your i)roperty ; murdered your neighbors ; outraged youi- 
women ; driven your children from their homes : and defiled the graves 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 93 

of your kindred. If each man of you will do what I have here urged 

upon you. we will utterly destroy them. We can do this ; we must do 

it ; our country will be ruined if we fail. A just God will strengthen 

our arms, and give us a glorious victory. 

T. C. HINDMAN. 

Major General Commanding. 

Comment is minecessaiy, unless it is to state that soon after 
(leneral Hindman encountered these men he had so vilified, he 
must have had a most wholesome respect for them, as his supe- 
riors in every respect, except in the manner of conducting a 
cowardly retreat. 

A brief extract of a lengthy effusion called a report of this 
battle, by one Colonel Joseph Shelby, who claims to have been 
in command of a brigade of cavalry, at that time, is here in- 
serted, not for any historical merit, because it has none, but as 
a literary curiosity, illustrating the flights of imagination taken 
by some of the rebel officers in making reports of their paper 
battles during ''the late unpleasantness'": 

When the final struggle came, when General Parsons met the shock 
of Blunt's entire command, .this regiment formed with him and fought 
with great efTect and intrepidity, for the dead and wounded Federals 
lying stretched out in their gory beds! -'thick as autumnal leaves in 
Vallambrosa.'' can well attest the fury and courage with which the Mis- 
sourians fought, shoulder to shoulder and side by side. Colonel 
Thompson, Lieutenant Colonel (John C.) Hooper. Major Smith, the 
C'aptain Qf each respective company, were amid their men, and did 
great good by their true and heroic bearing. Now the combat thickens 
all along the lines, and death, with its black banner on the breeze, 
nerves each heart and cheers them on to the rough, red fray. Bledsoe 
was there amid his guns, all dirt-begrimed and powder-blackened, ply- 
ing his lurid torch where balls would send or powder search, and 
never once during that long, hot day were they silent except when go- 
ing neai'er and nearer to the foe. Colonel Jeans, Lieutenant Colonel 
(4ordon and Lieutenant (iregg were also on the left whei'e the fire was 
getting hotter and hotter, and with the pilot's wary eye steered their 
commands safely thi-ough the breakers, white with the fire of deadly 
cannon and painted with all the dreaded gloom of ghastly war. On the 
right that part of my command under Major Kirtley had returned 



94 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

from a successful charge, under your immediate eye, and when the 
dark and weird shadows of night liad closed over earth and sky and 
the dead and wounded, reports of a well won and well fought battle 
came cheerily up from all parts of the field, and I drew my command 
together calmly and cautiously, knowing that the day in all its bear- 
ings was ours. Night had closed the march of death, and the idle 
breeze now gave no murmur back to tell of what had been passing but 
a few brief moments before. 

I dismounted my entire command, moving them as infantry to the 
road leading dii-ectly down to the house at the foot of the hill and be- 
hind the batteries there stationed, and ordered them to bivouac without 
fires, with guns in their hands and determination in their hearts. Down, 
down upon the cold, hard earth, without a murmur, without a word 
spoken above a whisper, they lay. with longing eyes stretched far away 
northward, thinking of home and the morrow and another glorious 
day. 

Those present during that engagement, knowing the facts, 
will wonder if this Colonel Shell)y was at that time within 
twenty miles of that battle field. Nothing in his ^'report," so 
far as examined, indicates his presence on that field. To illus- 
trate : At the time he represents that he dismounted his com- 
mand, and ordered them to bivouac without fire, with - ' guns ' " 
in their hands, and they went '^ Down, down upon the cold, 
hard earth, without a murmur, without a word spoken above 
a whisper, they lay with longing eyes stretched far away north- 
ward, thinking of home, and the morrow and another glorious 
day,"" those fellows Avere '-on the skedaddle'" across. the Bos- 
ton mountains as fast as their attenuated legs would carry their 
cowardly bodies. And they did not stop running until they 
reached the town of Van Buren some forty-five miles away. 

The regiment camped upon the battle field until the 2Tth, at 
which time it took an active part in the expedition to Van Bu- 
ren, a town situated upon the Arkansas river, al)out forty-five 
miles south from the camp at Prairie Grove. Van Buren was 
one of the most important towns in the State, pleasantly situ- 
ated upon the north bank of the ri^ er, and doing a large com- 
mercial business. The sale of soods before the war exceeded 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 95 

one million dollars annually. It was a most important depot of 
supplies for the rebel army in that section of country. 

At Dripping Springs, a small town about ten miles from Van 
Buren, the First Iowa Cavalry, having the advance, encoun- 
tered a regiment of Texas rangers on outpost duty at that place. 
A charge was at once made, and a most confused retreat of the 
rangers followed. All the paraphernalia of camp life were 
scattered promiscuously along the road. The retreat and pur- 
suit were continued into Van Buren, and the victory was com- 
plete. One hundred of the enemy were taken prisoners, five 
Arkansas river steamboats l)urned, and an immense amount of 
property, commissary and quartermaster supplies, were cap- 
tured and destroyed. It was estimated that not less than 
$300,000 were lost to the rebellion. On the 31st it returned 
to camp at Prairie Grove, having taken a leading part in the 
most dashing and daring expedition which had yet taken place. 
It was essentially a cavalry fight, and won by them — the First 
Iowa Cavalry leading. On this expedition Captain A. G. Mc- 
Queen, Company A. with 75 selected men of the regiment, as 
an escort for General Schofield, who was endeavoring to over- 
take Generals Blunt and Herron. (but failed,) marched thirty- 
one miles across the mountains in three houi's and five minutes, 
and during that time charged through a squad of reliels. Lieu- 
tenant Colonel (then Captain) McQueen writes : ^ ^ I mention 
this fact as it surpasses the famous poetic ride of General Sheri- 
dan to "Winchester town.' General Schofield was greatly 
pleased and complimented us highly.'" 

General Curtis, in his report to General Halleck. said : "The 
Army of the Frontier, under Bhmt and Herron. moved over 
the Boston mountains Saturday, and withoul liahing. (h'iving 
tile enemy aci'oss the Arkansas river. '" " '•' The 
march of forty-five miles with arms and service, over the moun- 
tains and through the deep nmd of the valley, was a most haz- 
ardous and gallant affair.'" 

The battle of Pi-airie Grove a)i(l the snl)S(M|nent caijlui-c of 



96 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

Van Buren was of the utmost importance to the Union cause. 
It saved Missouri from further devastation. It gave the Union 
cause in western Arkansas great assistance. It ofiered an op- 
portunity for Union men who had been hiding in tlie caves and 
fastnesses of the Boston mountains, and hunted like wild beasts 
by ' ' Southern gentlemen, ' ' to rally for country and home. It 
broke up in rout and demoralization an army of 25,000 men, 
convincing many of them of the hopelessness of their cause. 
It was a powerfully stunning blow, from which the western 
portion of the so-called Southern Confederacy never recovei'ed. 
No victorious rebel army ever appeared north of the Arkansas 
river afterward. 

The close of the year found the regiment in camp again at 
Prairie Grove. During the year 1862 the casualties of the 
regiment had been so great that 275 recruits were sent from the 
State to fill its depleted ranks. 



1863. 

At seven oVlock f)n the morning- of January 2d the regiment, 
with the Third Division of the Army of the' Frontier, left their 
camp at Prairie Grove and commenced a retrograde, meander- 
ing marcli to Missouri. Marching through Fayetteviile it 
camped about three miles east of the town, on the north branch 
of White river, on the road leading to Huntsville, a small town 
about thirt}" miles distant east from Fayetteviile. On the 5th 
the march was continued, arriving at Huntsville on the evening 
of the 6th. We were again among the rugged hills of the 
Boston mountains. 

The ol)ject of this march Avas to intercept the rel)el General 
Marmaduke in his retreat from an unsuccessful raid into Mis- 
souri through the })asses of these mountains. 

On the loth the army left Huntsville, and from this time 
imtil the li>th. when it arrived on the south bank of \^^hite 
river, opposite Forsyth, the county seat of Taney count} , Mis- 
souri, it was a slow, tedious and disagreeable march among the 
hills and valleys of the Ozark range. The line of march crossed 
Dry and Osage forks, branches of Kings river, Crooked creek, 
a branch of White river, through the town of Carrollton, the 
county seat of Carroll county, Arkansas, to White river. Dur- 
ing this march scouting parties were sent out at various times, 
and skirmishes with the enemy were of frequent occurrence. I 
(juote a few extracts from my notes made at that time in refer- 
ence to the march, etc. 

Januarj^ 2d. — Assistant Surgeon Allen reported from sick 

leave. 
13 



98 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

On the evening of the 6th arrived at Huntsville jind camped 
on a hill east of toAvn. Many fine boiling springs of pure, clear 
cold vi^ater were passed during the day. Plenty of forage in 
this vicinity. 

On the 10th marched and camped a few miles from Kings 
River Mills, about fifteen miles from Huntsville. 

January 11th. Remained in camp until one o'clock p. m., 
awaiting orders. At that time marched eight miles and camped 
at dai-k on Osage creek, about seven miles distant from Car- 
roUton. 

January 12th. Marched this morning at nine o'clock, and 
reached CVirrollton. the county seat of Carroll county, a small 
town situated on Crooked creek, now nearly deserted. Major 
Caldwell, with -100 men of the regiment, returned from an ex- 
pedition to Kingston. On that expedition the extensive salt- 
petre works located at Kingston, a small town in Mndison 
county, on Bufl'alo creek, a l)ranch of White river, and operated 
by the rebel government, were entirely destroyed, and several 
tons of saltpetre l)urned. The works were situated u})()n ;i 
mountain side, and guarded l)y a company of 75 men. The 
•'boys"" dismounted and made a rapid ascent of the moun- 
tain, while the "guards"" as rapidly disappeared over the op- 
})osite side, in full retreat. After the destruction of the works, 
Captiiin McQueen. Ccmipaiiy A. with 200 men, was ordered to 
destroy another saltpetre factory about ten miles distant, which 
was acconi[)lished. 

Extensive caves of nitre earth, yielding from three to six per 
cent, of saltpetre, are fomid in this vicinity. It being easily 
obtained and manufactured at little ex})ense, with the almost 
impossil)ility of replacing the machinery, steani engines, ket- 
tles, etc.. the destruction of the works was a severe l)low to the 
rchel government. While returning, and in camp near Kings- 
ton, a drove of horses and nniles destined foi" the rebel army 
was captured and 8l» men taken prisonei's. Our loss was one 
man wounded. ( ieorge W. Patterson, Company C. Patterson 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 99 

was severely burned about the face and eyes while rescuing a 
silk and helpless rel)el soldier from a burning building. He 
lieai'd the soldier's cry for help, went to his assistance, and 
brought him safely out — a most heroic and humane act, but 
attended with a most sad result to Patterson, as the injury to 
his eyes resulted in total permanent l)lindness in both eyes. 
Lieutenant Dustin, Sergeant H. L. Morrill, Corporal Newell 
and H. E. Wisener were complimented for great gallantry dis- 
played upon the occasion. Captain Jenks, Company D, killed 
the leader of a band of citizens in ambush, in a hand-to-hand 
encounter. 

rbmuary 13th. All the availal)le cavalry forces of the divis- 
ion, under Colonel Gower, marched on an expedition to Yell- 
\ille. the county seat of Marion county, to again intercept 
Marniaduke in his so far unsuccessful retreat into Arkansas. 
Marching thirty miles in storm and mud, we camped at night 
without shelter. During the night the weather became cold. 
At daylight on the morning of the 14th wc [)assed through 
Yellville, and camped at Talbofs feny, on White river, ten 
miles distant east from Yellville. The weather is cold, and it 
has conunenced to snow. These notes are written in a deserted 
house by tirelight. Greene's (rebel) forces are reported to be 
in our rear. But Marniaduke has not yet \mt in an a})pear- 
ance. 

-lanuary 15th. The ground is covered with snow, and still 
siKtwino", freezinof and growino; colder. Countermarched in the 
direction of Yellville. Leaving that town on the left, we 
mai'ched on the road to our camp near Carrollton. It was ex- 
ceedingly cold all day, much like our northern winter days. 
At night we camped at a handet called Belfont. also called 
Logtown. twenty miles from our camp. 

On the Kith the weather had become colder. Many of the 
soldiers' eitrs and toes had become frost-bitten. Tlu' nuid and 
water in the road had frozen solid, ;ind horses. l)eing ••sniooth- 
sho<l."* traveled with great ditheulty. We reached our camp 



1 00 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

near Canollton about three o'clock p. m., having marched a 
distance of one hundred miles, taken thirty-nine prisoners, and 
captured a considerable amount of property. 

January 17th. A supply train from Forsythville came up 
and issued much needed rations. General Herron having left 
the army, Colonel Gower assumed command of the Third Di- 
vision. Marched in a northeasterly direction at ten o'clock, 
and camped at night on a branch of White river, ten miles dis- 
tant from Carrollton. 

January 18th. A heavy sleet is now falling, making the 
march very uncomfortable. To-day oui- line of march has been 
among the hills, through a vast pine forest, almost uninhabited, 
with no water during the last fifteen miles traveled. Camped 
kite at night, on the mountain, at a Dr. Leighton's saw mill, in 
a drizzling rain. The country through which we passed to-day 
is called *'the White river brakes." 

January 19th. Marched this morning at nine o'clock, and 
reached White river, opposite Forsyth, at three p. m. The 
storm continues. On account of the high stage of water we 
cannot cross. Camped on the l)anks. 

January 23d. The infantry crossed the rivei' to-day by 
means of ;i small ferry boat. The cavalry attempted to cross 
by svvinmiing their horses. Corporal James Robinson, Com- 
pany A. was drowned while thus crossing. After which, cross- 
ing in this manner was al)andone(l. 

On the 24th the regiment crossed on the ferry boat and 
camped in the deserted town. Forsyth in antebellum days was 
a small, well built town, doing a thriving business. White 
I'iver, at a high stage of water, is navigable to this place, which 
made it (|uite an important shii)j)ing point. It is now entirely 
deserted, and the vicinity infested with guerillas and despera- 
does. 

The connnand remained her<» until Fe])ruary IHth. the regi- 
ment (loijig scouting and outpost duty. Theod(n"e LeBau. pri- 
vate Company (i. and flames Wood. ])rivate C(mipany K, died 



HISTORY or FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 101 

in regimental hospital, and were buried with military honors. 
While in camp here, Zachariah E. Thomas, private Company 
A, killed the notorious outlaw, Alf Boland, in a hand-to-hand 
encounter. For this daring; act Thomas was promoted to a 
Lieutenantcy in the Eleventh Missouri Cavalry. 

On the morning of February 16th, the regiment with the 
division, except Companies B and M and the Nineteenth Iowa 
Infantry, (which were ordered to remain here to hold the posi- 
tion, ) marched for Lake Springs, in Dent county, Missouri, ar- 
riving at that place March 31st. The following are extracts 
from notes made during the march. 

February 16th. Left Forsyth this morning at eight o'clock. 
Regiment rear guard for train. A rainy day. Camped on 
Swan creek, about ten miles distant north from Forsyth. 

17th. The march continued on SAvan creek for a distance of 
eight or ten miles, and reaching Elk Horn creek we camped 
three miles from its mouth. During the day we passed through 
a small village called Swanville. Distance marched, fifteen 
miles. 

18th. Marched at eight o'clock this morning, and camped 
on Finley creek, about thirty miles east from Springfield, in 
Webster county. The roads are in a •' horril)le condition." A 
portion of our transportation has not come up. Forage scarce 
and our teams are suffering foi- the want of it. Distance 
marched, fifteen miles. 

19th. A portion of the transportation has not yet come u)), 
and some of the companies are suffering for the want of tents 
to protect them from the inclemency of the weather. We are 
now in camp in a nice position, on an eminence, in an oak 
grove. A good supply of forage here. 

•J(»th. Surgeon Cochran returned from leave of absence to 
resume his duties as Medical Directoi- of this division. 

21st. Snowing and (juite cold. 

22(1. Washington's I>irth(la\ . Tlic jx'ople lieic ai'c for the 
••old Hair." riie Kiiilitli Reuinicnt Missoui'i ('avalr\ \\a-< 



102 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

raised in this vicinity, and many of them are visiting tlieir 
homes. 

23d. While privates Marchant. Company C, B. E. Lake, 
Company I, E, Groom. Jesse Slough. G. W. Shaver and M. 
R. Shaver, Company D. were on duty six miles from cami), 
they were surprised and captured, with their horses, equipments 
and arms. l>y a squad of the enemy dressed in our uniform. 

24th. Scouting party, under command of Cliaptain Cha.se. 
Company C, was sent out this morning in the direction of For- 
syth. A stormy evening. 

25th. The weather continues stormy and a high wind pre- 
vails. This evening our bugler and Charlie Barlow, Company 
F, called at the hospital and most agreeably entertained us in 
the way of music. 

26th. This morning the sun is shining, and the Aveathei- 
pleasant — springlike. 

27th. Cloudy this e^'ening. with indications of another 
storm. Scouting party which had l)een sent out in the direc- 
tion of Forsyth returned to-day. and a detail from the regiment 
sent to Springfield. 

28th. It rained hard all night, and continued at intervals 
to-day. A scouting party of 50 men ordered out. The five 
men who w^ere captured on the 25th returned to camp on foot, 
having l)een paroled. 

March 1st. Weather variable, with high winds. A large 
scouting party has been ordered out. to report to-morrow 
morning at eight o'clock. 

March 2d. Tlie command marched this morning at eight 
o'clock in an easterly direction. The scouting party ordered to 
repoi't this morning will act as \'anguard to the army. Camped 
at three o'clock p. m. on Baker's creek, the ^^head waters" of 
the Gasconade river. It has been a cold, blustering day. A 
part of the transportation did not come u}). Compan}' E, the 
rear guard, is \vith it. Distance marched, twelve miles. Lo- 
cated hospital at Joseph Spencer's house — a rebel. 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 103 

Mnrch 3d. Marched this morning at seven o'clock, and 
camped on Wolf creek, a branch of the Gasconade river, eight 
miles southwest from Hartville, the county seat of Wright 
county, and fifteen miles southeast from Hazelwood, in Web- 
ster county. Company E, with the delayed transportation, has 
not yet come up. Distance marched, eight miles. 

March 4th. Weather this morning quite cold. Marched at 
seven o'clock. Rear guard with transportation came up to-day. 
Camped about two o'clock p. m., at a small town called Moun- 
tain Grove, in the southeastern part of Wright county, seven- 
teen miles southwest from Hartville, and about one mile from 
Mountain Store, another small town in Texas county. The 
town (Mountain Grove) is pleasantly situated on one of the ex- 
tensive plateaus of the Ozark range, covered with groves of 
small oak timl)er. The country in this vicinity is (me succes- 
sion of peaks and valleys. A lai'gc spring near the town sup- 
plies it with clear, pure water. A seminary, called • ' The 
^Mountain Grove Seminary," is located here, but was closed at 
the outbreak of the rebellion. It is reported to have l)een a 
flourishing institution of learning, and sufficiently large to ac- 
(•(mimodate one hundretl students. The town was a hot-bed of 
secessionists, and is now ncnrly deserted. Distance marched 
to-day, eighteen miles. 

The army remained at this place until the 16th. Scouting 
parties were frecjuently sent out in various directions, and many 
of the enemy taken prisoners. Forage was very scai'ce ; trains 
were sent out twelve miles to obtain it. Henry C. Skinnei', 
))rivat<' C()m])any G, and Sergeant William Brim, Com])aiiy 1, 
died in regimental hos])ital here in camp, and were buried with 
military hcmors. 

The Second Division of the ai'iny was in camp near the town 
of Hhxmiington, called also Waldo and Lick Skillcl. near Ila- 
zehvood, on a branch of the (jasconade river, in Webster county, 
about fifteen miles to the northeast from our i-amp. Our camp 



104 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

is located on a small stream called ^Tietstone creek, anothei' 
branch of the Gasconade river. 

March 6th. A stormy, blustering day. Our horses have 
suffered more from exposure yesterday and to-day than at any 
time on the march. Our forage train was fired upon to-da}-. 
A large scouting party has been sent out under Colonel Bei"- 
tram. Twentieth Wisconsin Infantry. 

March 7th. Stomiy and windy. Last night was another 
severe night for our horses. 

March 8th. Storm continues. A ''blue day.*' Scouting 
party returned with seven prisoners, among whom was a Cap- 
tain in General Hindman's army. 

March 16th. The command marched this morning in an 
easterly direction, and camped on a branch of the Big Piney 
fork of the Gasconade river, near a small town called Cedar 
Bluffs, in Texas count>-. 

March 17th. Marched and camped at Pleasant Valley, on a 
branch of the Current river, about fifteen miles in an easterly 
direction from Houston, the county seat of Texas count)'. 

March 18th. Marched this morning at seven o'clock, and 
camped about noon at a place called Casta Valley, near the 
eastern line of Texas county. There is a great scarcit}' of watei' 
and forage here, and our animals are suffering in consequence. 
Daniel Hopper, private of Company G, died at this camp, and 
was buried with military honors. Distance marched, tM^elve 
miles. 

March 19th. Marched this morning at seven o'clock in a 
northeasterly direction. Crossed CuiTent river and camped at 
Gladden Valley, on Barren fork of Sinking creek, near a small 
town called Richmond Hill, in Shannon county. Distance 
marched, fifteen miles. Gladden Valley is situated |'orty-five 
miles southeast from Roll a, seventy -five miles southwest from 
[ronton, and fifteen miles north from Eminence, the county seat 
of this county. The command remained here until the 30th. 
AVhile in camp at this place the regiment received 250 Colts' 




t 






Herbert L. Mills Co. L. 

JOAB SOMERS, Co. L. 



Lewis E. Dean, Bugler, Co. M. 
U. J. Leonard, Sergeant, Co. L. 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 105 

improved arm}' revolvers, 500 sabers, and 600 Sharp's breech- 
loading carbines. For the lirst time during its service its arma- 
uient is nearly complete. Previous to this time almost every 
description of arms could be found in it, from a Philadelphia 
ritle to the original horse pistol. 

March 20th. To-day received commission as Assistant Sur- 
geon of the regiment. Sworn into the United States service 
by Acting Adjutant Lieutenant George M. Walker, Company 
L). All the effective force of the command is ordered to be 
ready to march on an expedition to Oregon county to-moiTow 
morning. 

March 21st. Marched this morning at seven o'clock in a 
southerly direction, passing our camping ground of yesterday", 
and camped on Jack's fork, a branch of Current river. Distance 
marched, forty miles. 

March 22d. Marched this morning at daylight, crossing 
Jack's fork at a saw mill, and after marching about eighteen 
miles camped on the farm of a German farmer in HoAvard 
county, near Kings mountain, about twenty-five miles distant 
northwest from Thomas ville, the county seat of Oregon county. 
We are on the road leading from Thomasville to Houston in 
Texas county. It has been storming all day. and the roads are 
exceedingly muddy. 

March 23d. Rained all night, and still raining. Passed a 
most uncomfortable night. A scouting party of 75 men or- 
dered out, and the balance of the command to countermarch. 
The rain storm is very severe. Camped on camping ground of 
the 21st, on Jack's forks. 

March 24:th. Marched at daylight, and camped at night at 
the foot of a high hill, as one enters Gladden Valley from the 
south. Distance marched, twenty-eight miles. 

March 25tli. Marched this morning at sunrise. Crossing 

CuiTent river, we arrived in camp at Gladden Valley before 

noon. Distance marched, twelve miles. There are numerous 

passes among these mountains, and it is almost impossible to 
14 



106 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

intercept any small force of the enemy desiring to march 
through them. 

March 28th. William Andrews, private Company C, died 
in regimental hospital to-day, and was buried with military 
honors. About four miles east from our camp a magnificent 
spring issues from beneath a high ledge of rocks, throwing out 
an immense volume of water. It furnishes power for a flour- 
ing mill, and is the fountain head of Beaver creek, a branch of 
Current river. 

March 30th. The army marched this morning at eight 
o'clock, and camped at three o'clock p. m. . about seven miles 
south fi'om Salem,' on the road leading to Rolla. Distance 
marched, ten miles. 

March 31st. Marched this morning at seven o'clock on the 
road leading to Eolla. Passed through Salem, and camped 
at about three p. m. at a place called Laketon. Distance 
marched, nineteen miles. Salem is the county seat of Dent 
county. It is a small town, and said to have been in a flour- 
ishing condition before the war. A female seminary, a few 
stores and a hotel are located here. The town is nearly de- 
serted. The buildings are now occupied by a force of the State 
militia. Laketon is a hamlet situated on the Meramec creek or 
river, about thirteen miles south from Rolla, near the northern 
line of Dent county. A large female academy is located 
at this place but is now closed. Our camp is called Lake 
Springs from the fact that a very large spring, forming a small 
lake, and furnishing sufficient water for the army, is situated 
near the camp. The regiment remained here in camp until 
rlune 11th, scouting, and doing picket and outpost service. 

April 2d. Received official notice of the appointment of 
Surgeon Cochi-an as Medical Director of the Army of the 
Frontiei'. 

Apiil !>tli. George Hollings worth, ijrivate Company D, died 
in regimental hospital to-day, and was buried with military 
honors. 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. lOT 

April 19th. To-day Assistant Surgeon Allen received his 
commission as Surgeon of the Thirtieth Iowa Infantry. A 
most worthy promotion. 

April 21st. A detachment of 500 men of the First Iowa 
Cavalry, and 250 of the Eighth Missouri Cavalry, under com- 
mand of Major Caldwell, First Iowa Cavalry, with no trans- 
portation, marched to join an expedition under Brigadier 
General Vandever, to attack General Marmaduke in his raid 
into southeastern Missouri. Marmaduke is reported to l)e in 
the vicinity of Pilot Knob, in Iron county, with a force of 
7,000 cavalry and artillery. The following are extracts from 
my notes made during that expedition. 

April 21st. Left camp at three o'clock p. m. Marched 
fourteen miles and camped at eight o'clock, two miles east of 
Salem, on the road leading to Ironton and Pilot Knob. At 
this camp we were joined by the First, Sixth and Seventh Mis- 
souri Cavalry Regiments, Batter}' — , First Missouri Light 
Artillery, and three howitzers. 

April 2 2d. Marched at four o'clock this morning, the regi- 
ment being the advance guard. Passed Howe's Mill on Huzza's 
creek, and camped on Cottery creek about seven p. m. Dis- 
tance marched, twenty-six miles. 

April 23d. Marched this morning at six o'clock. One 
liundred of the First Iowa Cavalry have been ordered to report 
to General Vandever as body guard. Passed through O K, a 
small deserted town. It was formerly quite a '^ ))usiness '" 
place. A pottery was located here, and quite a business car- 
ried on in grape culture and the manufacture of wine. Ar- 
rived at Pilot Knob at three o'clock p. m. Distance marched, 
thirty miles. The people are very much excited, fearing an 
immediate attack by General Marmaduke's forces. Telegraphic 
conmiunication with St. Louis has l)een cut off by the enemy, 
and alarms are frequent. 

April 25th. Reveille sounded this morning at three o'clock, 
and boots and saddles at four o'clock. Not finding the enemy 



108 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

at this place, the command marched at twelve o'clock m. , and 
camped at Fredericktown, the county seat of Madison county, 
at four o'clock p. m. , marching a distance of twenty-one miles. 

April 26th. Marched this morning at six o'clock. Passed 
through a small town called Paton, in Bollinger county, about 
noon, (this place was the rebel camp of yesterday,) and bivou- 
acked about three miles from Jackson, the county seat of Cape 
Girardeau county, and one mile from the enemy's camp. Dis- 
tance marched, thirty-six miles. General Marmaduke attacked 
the city of Cape Girardeau, but having been defeated by Gen- 
ei'al McNeil, commanding that post, he had fallen back toward 
Jackson, supposing that his line of retreat was a safe one — not 
knowing that a force Avithin a short distance was already mak- 
ing preparations to destroy that portion of his army, camped 
so dangerously near it. It was Colonel Newton's regiment of 
General Burbridge's I'ommand. They were camped on the 
road leading frojn Jackson to Dallas, the county seat of Bol- 
linger county. 

A midnight attack was planned, the details of which were 
entrusted to the First Iowa Cavalry. Lieutenant Hursh, Com- 
pany F, with 20 men and two howitzers loaded with gTape and 
canister, quietly made their way, capturing their pickets, to 
within about thirty yards of the unsuspecting rebels, and dis- 
charged simultaneously howitzers and carbines into their camp, 
and before they had recovered from their surprise the First 
Iowa Cavalry charged upon the thoroughly demoralized men. 
In their haste to escape everything was left behind. Many were 
killed ; tifty-three hoi'ses, arms, camp equipage, and several 
thousand dollars' worth of stolen property, were captured. It 
was a most brilliant aiiair. and our First Cavalry received most 
nattering commendations for their dashing and daring midnight 
attack. 

The exi)loit of marching nearly forty miles during the day, 
and with scarcely a halt, successfully attacking and destroying 
a camp of a greatly su])cri<n' force at midnight, and at dawn the 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 109 

next morning in the saddle and in full pursuit of the retreating 
foe, is not found recorded elsewhere in the history of the 
rebellion. 

April 27th. Marched at daylight. Marmaduke in his re- 
treat is endeavoring to prevent pursuit by burning and destroy- 
ing bridges in his rear. Our advance is so close upon him 
that the work is not effectually performed. Skirmishing con- 
tinued throughout the day. He has succeeded in destroying 
the ])ridge at the crossing of White Water river, and we are 
obliged to camp for the night. 

A})ril 28th. Bridge repaired by General McNeiFs forces, 
which came up as reinforcements last night, with a supply ti'ain. 
As we had been ordered out with but five days' rations, and 
this being the eighth day out, it can well be imagined that the 
appearance of a commissary train was most welcome. There 
was very little food to be obtained from the country through 
which we were marching. It was an unproductive region at 
the l)est. and the rebel army had devoured what little had been 
produced. Our rations had become entirely exhausted and we 
were exceedingly hungry. Crossed White Water river at noon, 
and marched all night in a rain storm, stopping for a few min- 
utes to feed our horses. Our march was necessarily slow :ni<l 
uncomfortable. 

April 29th. Reached Spring Hill, a small town near Pike- 
ton, in Stoddard county, five miles from Castor Creek Ford. 
Arrived at the ford this afternoon. Here the enemy made a 
determined resistance, but were in a short time compelled to 
abandon their position, and a portion of the command crossed 
this evening. The regiment with :i batteiy remained until 
morning to protect the ford. 

.\pril 30th. Crossed Castor creek this morning, and marched 
:tll (hxy and a ))ortion of the night on a very bad I'oad. and 
ramped twenty-seven miles from the f(n-d. 

May 1st. The regiment having the advance this morning, it 
attacked the rear of the enemy, at a place about forty miles 



110 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

distant from Chalk Bluffs, a small town at a crossing of the St. 
Francis river. At Bloomtield and other places the enemy 
formed in line of battle, but was immediately driven from his 
position by the regiment, and the retreat and pursuit renewed. 
In this manner the fighting continued all day. and until night 
prevented further operations. The distance covered by this 
running fight was thirty-seven miles, to a place about three 
miles distant from Chalk Bluff's. The loss of the regiment was 
three wounded — Sergeant William Hunter and private William 
George, Company F, and private Charles D. Esson, Compan}- 
L. (Sergeant Hunter died in general hospital at Cape Gi- 
rardeau, from the effects of his wound. May 25th. ) The ene- 
my's loss severe, but not known. 

May 2d. The wounded were sent to a small town passed 
yesterday called Four Mile. The eneni}' crossed the river last 
night and this morning under cover of their batteries, our forces 
skirmishing with them to the bank of the river. The loss of 
the regiment was two wounded — privates Milton S. Clark and 
Theodore Y. Creamer, Company I. 

Having driven the enemy out of the State and across the St. 
Francis river, the command countermarched and camped nine 
miles distant fi'om Chalk Bluffs, on the road leading to Bloom- 
field, the county seat " of Stoddard county, taking all the 
wounded with us in amljulances. 

May 3d. Marched this morning and arrived at Bloomfield 
at three o'clock p. m. , at which place a temporary hospital was 
established and the wounded cared for. Distance marched, 
twenty-four miles. Bloomfield is thirty-three miles distant 
north from Chalk Bluff's. 

May 4th. Marched this morning at six o'clock. The 
ambulances containing the wounded, with a large escort, were 
ordered to take the advance, for the purpose of reaching Cape 
Girardeau as speedily as possible. The roads are bad, and 
progress slow on account of the condition of the roads and a 
severe rain storm. We stopped for the night at a farm house 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. Ill 

twenty-two miles from Cape Girardeau, at which place the 
wounded were well provided for. Distance marched, twenty- 
eight miles. 

May 5th. Marched this morning at six o'clock. Still rain- 
ing. Arrived at Cape Girardeau at four o'clock p. m., and the 
wounded taken to general hospital. Distance marched, twenty- 
two miles. 

Cape Girardeau is quite a large city, situated on the west 
l)ank of the Mississippi river, in the southeastern part of Cape 
Girardeau county. It is quite an extensive depot for army 
supplies, which fact attracted Marmaduke's attention, resulting 
in an attempt to capture the place. The inhabitants are mostly 
German and French. A nunnery and Catholic school for 
young ladies are located here. Many fine residences adorn the 
l)hice. 

May 6th. The regiment with the command arrived to-day. 

The regiment remained here until the 8th. At three o'clock 
1*. M. on the 8th it marched on a countermarch to camp at Lake 
Springs — Colonel Wickersham, Tenth Illinois Cavalry, in com- 
mand of division, and Major Caldwell, First Iowa Cavalry, in 
<()mmand of our l)rigade. Camped at seven o'clock p. m. on 
the noted night charge battle field. Distance marched, thirteen 
miles. 

May 9th. Marched at six o'clock this morning on the road 
leading to Pilot Knob, reaching that place on the 10th at 
twelve o'clock M., having marched sixty miles. 

We remained here until the 12th, at which time the regi- 
ment, with the Eighth Missouri Cavalry, marched on the road 
to KoUa, and t-amped on our camping ground of April 22d. 
A stormy night. Occupied (juarters with Major Caldwell in a 
<'orn cril). Distance marched, twenty-six miles. 

May 13th. Marched this morning in a rain storm, and 
camped at five o'clock p. 3J. on the camping ground of April 
21st, one mile east of Salem. 

May 14-th. Marched at six o'clock and reached our camj) :it 



112 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

Lake Springs at ten o'clock a. m., having been absent twenty- 
four days, marched a distance of five hundred miles, and for six 
days engaged in a continuous running fight. 

During this time the detachment suffered on account of a 
lack of a supply of rations, having been without a supply foi- 
nearly three days — and from the inclemency of the weather, 
having no tents to protect us from the severe rain storms en- 
countered during the march. 

On our return to camp we received a most hearty welcome 
from the ' ' boys, ' ' and the ' '• reunion ' ' exercises extended f ai- 
into the night. 

A copy of an interesting letter wi'itten by Lieutenant Charles 
W. W. Dow, Company F, to his father and family at Iowa 
City, Iowa, dated at Lake Springs, Mo., May 28th, 1863, in 
reference to the ' ' moonlight charge ' ' near the town of Jackson, 
and the subsequent pursuit of General Marmaduke's forces to 
Chalk Bluffs, on the St. Francis river, is here inserted. 

COPY OF A LETTER SENT HOME. 

Third Division Army of the Frontier, 

Camp Lake Springs, May 28th. 1863. 
Dear Mother and Father. Brothers and Sisters : 

Reading- an article in the Missouri Democrat this morning brought 
me to a consciousness that I had not written home for some time. It 
was entitled ■• A Mother Waiting for the News,'" It brought forcibly to 
my mind that I ought immediately to write home, which I proceed to 
do. 

My health is good ; the health of the company and regiment is also 
very good. Our company has but one man in hospital, and he is get- 
ting well fast. Dick Hoxie left here for home on furlough on the 16th. 
and I suppose has arrived safe. He will tell you all the news of the 
camp, which is scanty. 

As for some little account of our last scout. I will try and give at 
least what I know if nothing more. 

On the 21st day of April, 1863, we were lying in camp at Lake 
Springs, Dent county, Missouri, recruiting our horses and enjoying a 
soldier's life generally, when orders were received to be ready to march 
at 12 M., without wagons or camp equipage, with five days' rations. 







Major J. D. Jenks, Field and Stuff 
Surgeon M. B Cochran 



W. W Dow, Lieut. Co. F. 
Col. Daniel Anderson. 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 113 

All prepared themselves for the march, for inactivity is surely the bane 
of a volunteer soldier's life. 

At about half-past three p. M. we were in line ready for the march. 
The Eighth Missouri Cavalry, First Battalion of the First Missouri Cav- 
alry, and the Sixth Missouri Cavalry, joined us on the road, being all 
at this camp, and we started we knew not where. Dame rumor said 
Marmaduke with 7,000 men were marching on Pilot Knob, which we 
were to reinforce, (which rumor after arriving at the Knob proved 
true.) We camped the night of the 21st half a mile from a little town 
called Salem, fifteen miles from Lake Springs. We were here joined 
by all of the cavalry of the Second Division and one battery of six 
pieces light artillery, making our force about 2,100 cavalry and six 
guns. About three P. ai. on the 23d we arrived at Pilot Knob, distance 
from our camp eighty-seven miles, where we found the forces there 
expecting an assault hourly. 

We encamped, or rather laid out, being placed out half a mile on a 
main road leading to Buford from Lesterville, southwest from the Knob, 
where we remained. We were under the command of Genei'al Vande- 
ver. Major Caldwell commanding our regiment, consisting of 480 men 
all told. We found about two regiments of infantry, and betAveen two 
and three regiments of cavalry, with about twelve pieces cannon. We 
were soon joined by reinforcements from St. Louis with ai-tillery. 

Report says the forces of Marmaduke and Price have formed a junc- 
tion and are advancing with from 18.000 to 24,000 men, and (iod knows 
how many more. ••Oh, rumor, what a liar!" 

The whole command keep constantly saddled, with bridles on the 
horses' necks, and three days' rations in the saddle-bags. 

24th. Communication by telegraph said to be cut off from St. Louis. 
which makes matters worse than ever. 

General McNeil started fi-om Bloomfield to reinforce us. but was 
driven back by Marmaduke, and he has fallen back to Cape (Jirardeau. 
to which place (ienei'al Marmaduke (finding us at Pilot Knob so well 
pi-ei)ared) started for with the intention of taking that place before 
reinforcements could arrive. 

25th. But we were soon on his heels, hearing from oui- scouts t)f his 
mfivements. He arrived there and sent in a Hag of truce for the town 
to surrender. McNeil refused of course, when the enemy commenced 
shelling the town and nuid forts there. They hold out, and Marma- 
duke, knowing that he had but little time to spare, for Vandever, with 
the Hower of the cavalry of the Army of the Frontier, who have never 

been whipped, are already found gnawing at his rear. 
15 



J 14 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

After a few ineffectual attempts to take the Cape, and being- i-epulsed 
at every point, and by greatly inferior numbers, he began to retreat 
towards Bloomfield, making his way south, leaving a few men before 
the Cape to hide his movements and so keep McNeil from forming a 
junction with Vandever. We heard their cannonading and pushed on to 
give the beseiged help. 

26th. About ten p. M. our forces came upon the main body of the 
enemy in full retreat toward Bloomfield ; the enemy, not knowing of our 
close proximity, camped at Jackson, leaving one regiment about two 
miles out for a strong picket guard. About half-past eleven o'clock r. 
M., a clear, moonlight night, Company F, First Iowa Cavalry, was 
ordered to prepare to make a charge on this outpost regiment with 
sabers. Immediately all our forage tied on behind us was cut loose, 
sabers were drawn, and with scabbards under our legs to jjrevent rat- 
tling or any noise, the company formed in a column of fours and moved 
.«:ilently forward going into the timber on a slight road. The moon 
shone beautifully. What my thoughts were at that time is my biz : not 
a thought of danger or fear crossed my mind. In the meantime a small 
howitzer was wheeled up to the front of our column to fire the first shot, 
loaded almost to the muzzle with small shot, etc. Our mode of attack 
was, eight men on the right were to fire their carbines on the enemy 
(after the howitzer), at the same time the balance were to charge and 
cut down all who opposed. Soon we were within a short distance of 
where they had lain down. We had avoided some and captured others 
of their pickets, thus preventing an alarm. We could hear them talk- 
ing, we were so close. One cuss says, ' • I say Bill, ain't this a nice 
place to sleep?'' Another, playing cards, says. -'My trick, by God." 
Another, ••Whoa. God damn you,'' to his horse. The brush was very 
thick between us and them, and I wondered not a little how we could 
get through. My wonder ceased by hearing the order from Lievitenant 
Hursh, (who commanded the company and the eight men in front, while 
I had command of the reserve foi' chai-ging. ) to wheel to the right and 
fire. Boom! went the little brass devil. Bang! bang! bang! went the 
carbines. ■• t'harge!" and we were upon them. And now commenced 
a scene it is impossible to describe. Every man there was a man. The 
rebs fired one volley, scattering like chaff, without arms, hats, shoes, 
coats, horses, saddles ; nothing was taken by them. The stampede was 
in them, and those not cut down or shot scattered, leaving everything, 
making for the town of Jackson where Marmaduke rested. Their loss 
was very great, though unknown to us. 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 115 

Every man (53) was ordered to bring out a horse and every one did, 
being 53 in all ; the balance we cut loose, pricking them with our sabers 
to scatter them, as we could not take them along. 

The rally was sounded and we left for the main road where the main 
column awaited us. 

All of our men that wanted exchanged their bad horses for good; 
mine was good enough. 

Thus we had made one of the most brilliant charges, and that at 
midnight, by moonlight, made during the war up to that date. 

We stood to horse the balance of that night, it beginning to rain at 
two o'clock A. M. next morning, when we moved on after the enemy. 

Two miles from where we made the charge our advance came upon 
the enemy's rear who were just leaving Jackson. When our guns com- 
menced shelling them they would not stand, but moved off rapidly 
towards Bloomfield. 

In the meantime dispatches were sent to General McNeil to hasten to 
White Watei- bridge to intercept their I'etreat, thus bidnging them be- 
tween us and them, when they would have to surrender at least their 
guns, eleven in number. 

McNeil did not get up in time. Marmaduke had crossed with his 
command, leaving one regiment behind to oppose our crossing and keep 
us in check while they pushed on. The road lay thi-ough a large cypress 
swamp, mud from six to twenty inches deep. How they got over the 
swamp the ••deil knows." After crossing they commenced to cut up 
the bridge. Poinding us so close they turned their guns on the bridge 
in order to blow it to pieces. 

In the meantime part of a regiment charged on our advanced bat- 
tery, (before crossing,) but were repulsed. 

The Third Iowa wei-e deployed as skirmishers. The enemy suc- 
ceeded in cutting off some 21 men and one officer, taking them pris- 
oners, and retreated over the bridge. Oiu- guns wei-e used to such effect 
they did not totally destroy the bridge. Pioneers went to work about dusk 
and had the bridge in crossing order, and we had all of onr force joined 
by McNeil's one hour before midnight; all over by ten o'clock next day. 

On, on we went, night and day, in hot pursuit, skirmishing constant- 
ly, taking- many prisoners, leaving some of our caissons (or ammuni- 
tion chests) on the road, taking oft' the horses and putting them on the 
guns, making eight horses to each gun and some extra, pushing on at 
redoubled speed until we got to the Castor river. There had been a 
bridge across the Castor a few miles from Bloomfield. but destroyed by 
the Johnnies. 



116 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

We had to wait until a bridge could be made, taking nearly all of 
one night. Crossed our artillery, (by the way, McNeil had brought up 
two regiments of infantry — First Nebraska, Thirty-Second Iowa, with 
Thirty-Seventh Illinois — coming on as fast as legs could take them.) 
The cavalry swam the river, which was broad and deep, and all moved 
on to Bloomfield. where the enemy had prepared for us. All the fences 
were piled up in squares, trees felled arouiid the town, and every prepa- 
ration made to: to: A few shells and grape soon sent them on the full 
retreat, leaving many wounded and sick in town in our hands. But we 
pushed on. fighting continually ; they making for the St. Francis river, 
knowing if once across they wei'e safe. Our bi-igade of cavalry were 
continually fighting on foot with our carbines. The last two days the 
enemy have kept two guns at work on our advance, but without much 
damage, only checking us until the infantry can come up. On the 1st 
day of May our regiment. First Iowa Cavalry, was ordered to keep the 
advance part of us on foot nearly all day. with our horses led close up. 
Heavy and sharp was the skirmishing between us and the rear guard 
of the enemy, but without much loss on our side. We had just returned 
to horse and mounted when the order was given to dismount, to fight 
on foot. Hardly had I struck the ground when Major Caldwell, com- 
manding our regiment, galloped back along the road yelling. "Com- 
pany F to the front." In a twinkling I was in my saddle, and olT we 
went at a run to the front. We got up to the front line of skirmishers, 
then moved along more cautiously by fours. Suddenly a single rifle 
shot was fii-ed — Dismount to fight. In an instant bang! bang! went two 
pieces of cannon, opening on us from the brush not over two hundred 
yards off with canister and grape. At the first rifle shot I struck the 
groimd. sending the horses to the rear, run out my platoon to the right 
into an open field, and soon had every man flat on their faces, while 
the stoi-m of iron hail rattled, hissed and plowed the ground around us. 
Our carbines were not idle, and we poured in volley after volley, load- 
ing and flring as we lay. How long was this to last? Soon volleys of 
musketry or riflery poured over and around us from the enemy's left 
flank. Where was our support? I look back in almost despair ; one 
little com])any of about fifty dismounted cavaliy holding out against 
two pieces of artillery and (rod knows how much infantry, grape, canis- 
ters and rifle balls. We were ordered to fall back ; we had already 
fallen belli/ : so back we could not go. for we would have been cut to 
pieces had we attempted it. One platoon began to crawl back. I 
ordered mine to lay. for I had already heard our artillery and the 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 117 

yells of our infants. The enemy had heard the same and commenced 
falling back and was soon in full retreat, and again our company was 
safe. The shells soon screamed over our heads from our battery, hur- 
rying the rebs if possible. We moved slowly back to our horses with 
but one man wounded, (Wm. George,) thanks to the belly operation. 
Now we were relieved, another regiment taking our place, while we 
i-ested. 

We were not allowed to rest long, for again were ordered one-half 
the regiment to dismount for foot work. We moved to the front as 
skirmishers, and were soon under heavy lire of small arms. We were 
this time supported by a small howitzer. Heavy was their fire ; equally 
brisk was ours. They would make a stand on the crest of every hill, 
(and it was a very rough country on either side of the road, which was 
on a ridge,) but our carbines and little bulldog always drove them. It 
was here that Sergeant Hunter was shot through the ankle while we 
were contesting a hill. 

One cuss rode out of the rebel lines with a white flag or rag on his 
ramrod, but in the other a double-barreled shot-gun at an advance ; the 
firing did not cease on their side ; but you can't catch the First Iowa 
on a flag of truce 7Tiore than once, especially with the bearer carrying 
a shot.-gun and the enemy continuing their fire. We knew the purpose, 
which was to gain time, and so escape with their guns. But no sooner 
had he left their lines than the bullets whi.stled round him like hail. 
He wheeled, fired both barrels of his gun at us. and vamosed. 

We pushed on, passing many bodies, sacks of corn meal, guns, 
sabers, etc., etc., showing how hard they were pushed. We got one 
shot in with our bulldog (howitzer), and knocked an ambulance con- 
taining ammunition for theii- guns endways, and they left everything in 
and around it. 

Night was ap])roaching. and the enemy's advance wei'e no doubt by 
this time crossing the St. Francis river, where they had on their way 
up left 400 men to build rafts and a floating bridge, in case they were 
unsuccessful going north, for safe retreat. 

We stood to horse part of the night, and the balance drawn out in 
line of skirmishers, standing picket in that shape. We now had been 
without rations for thi-ee days, except a little coffee and what we could 
get along the road, and you can imagine how much we got after the 
enemy passing over the road. I got one cracker this morning. May 3d, 
and a liltle piece of ■■sowbelly."' (oi- old poi'k.) and a spoonful of coffee 
and sugar, (ri'umbling would not help the case, so we did not growl 
tnuch. 



118 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

In the meantime another brigade had taken the front, and about nine 
A. M. of the 2d of May we mounted and moved up to the front to sup- 
port Cole's battery of six rifled twelve pounders. We there learned 
that the enemy had most of his men and all of his guns over the river. 
Soon our guns were got into position, and the thundering roar of twenty- 
three pieces of artillery drowned almost thought itself. We were 
shelling the crossing and the suri"ounding timber. My God, what a 
roar ! 'Tis inconceivable. This was kept up for nearly an hour, when 
our regiment received orders to proceed back to Bloomington. The 
enemy had escaped, with his gims. 

Companies F and G were ordered, under the command of Lieutenant 
Hursh, to proceed to Clarkstown and hold possession of the plank road 
leading to New Madi-id, thii-ty-three miles distant. We did so, cross- 
ing a " deil" of a cypress swamp; found the road blockaded and so had 
to take to the swamp. We entered Clarkstown about six p. M., cap- 
turing a few prisoners. Held possession until the rebs got so thick 
around us it was folly for us. only about sixty men, to remain. So 
about twelve a. m. on the 4th of May started for Bloomfield, distance 
forty-three miles, getting into Bloomlield at nine p. m. at night, raining 
hard and mud knee deep — thus making forty-three, citizens say forty- 
eight miles in nine hours. Beat that if you can, Sixth Iowa. 

We learned there that our regiment and brigade had gone to Cape 
Girardeau. We marched again at nine A. M. of the oth for the Cape. 
Ten miles out met two dispatch bearers going to Clarkstown for us. 
saying that dispatches had been sent to us at intervals of every six 
hours but had all been cut off. So we left there in the nick of time, 
for twelve hours after we left the enemy had possession of the town 
in force. Rations had been left us along the road ; glad were we to get 
them, for we had depended on the country for support. I can't imagine 
why we were sent so far away from reinforcements, forty-three miles in 
a thickly settled rebel position. But we escaped clear. We moved on 
to the Cape (Girardeau), and arrived on the 6th ; raining heavily ; got 
in on the heels of our command, and joined them before they had dis- 
mounted. 

We were received joyfully, for all had given us up as •• gobbled" by 
the rebs. Drew small tents, rations, etc., and laid up to recuperate 
ourselves and horses — Lieutenant Hursh. Acting Brigade Adjutant. 
Lieutenant Dow commanding C'omiiany F, which he did until we got 
back to Camp Lake Springs. 

On the 8th of May started on the back track for Pilot Knob; the in- 
fantry going back by steamboat and cars from whence they came. 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 119 

On the 10th arrived at the Knob, expecting to find our trains and 
camp there; did not, and on the 12th started for Lake Springs, travel- 
ing slowly ; arrived, and are now enjoying ourselves with plenty of 
grub for self and horses. 

A letter was received to-day from Cape Girardeau, where Sergeant 
Hunter and William George were left, stating that Sergeant Hunter 
had died on the 25th of May, after having his leg amputated just below 
the knee. Sad fate of a good soldier. All honor for the brave soldier 
who died for the Union. Wm. George is doing well. Later — we have 
had two twelve pound howitzers and expect two more attached to our 
regiment. CHAS. W. W. DOW. 

First Lietitenant Company F. 

During our al)sence Companies B and M, from Forsyth, 
rejoined the regiment. John Kelly, private Company B, was 
drowned in White river at Forsyth, March 2d, while assisting 
in the crossing of a forage train. 

May 21st. A grand reception was tendered Governor Soli- 
man, of Wisconsin, by the Twentieth Wisconsin Infantry and 
Second Wisconsin Cavalry, upon the occasion of the Governor's 
visit to them. All officers of the command were invited. A 
sumptuous dinner was prepared, speeches made, and toasts 
drank. It was a very pleasant and enjoyable occasion. In the 
evening a grand ball was given in honor of the distinguished 
guest. A gleam of sunshine in our army life. 

About this time Assistant Surgeon Allen, his resignation 
having been accepted, left us to join his regiment. (Thirtieth 
Infantry. ) as Surgeon of that regiment. 

May 27th. Doctor John A. Ladd reported as Assistant Sur- 
geon of the regijnent. promoted from Hospital Steward of the 
Twentj-Sixth Iowa Infantry. 

May 29th. Assistant Surgeon Lothrop was ordered by Ma- 
jor General Schofield to report at Rolla as member of Board of 
Examining Surgeons. 

May 31st. A. J. Kintz, private Company G, conunitted 
suicide liy shooting himself through the head. 

June 3d. Major General Herron, witli all the infantry antl 



120 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

artillery of the Second and Third Divisions, are ordered to 
Vicksburg, Mississippi, by way of St. Louis. Surgeon Coch- 
ran accompanies the command as Medical Director. 

June 5th. To-day the regiment has been transferred to the 
Second Brigade. First Cavalry Division — Colonel John M. Glo- 
ver, Third Missouri Cavalrj. commanding brigade, and Briga- 
dier General J. W. Davidson commanding division — and or- 
dered to report immediately at Pilot Knob. On account of 
severe rain storms no movement was made until the 11th. In 
the meantime the sick were transferred to general hospital at 
Rolla. New ambulances were obtained, and preparations made 
for another campaign. 

During our encampment at Lake Springs all supplies were 
obtained from Rolla, a small town situated about thirteen miles 
north from our camp at Lake Springs, on one of the extensive 
plateaus of the Ozark range of mountains in Phelps county. It 
was the terminus of the Southwestern branch of the Pacific 
railroad. It had become an important depot of supplies for the 
aiTny in that vicinity, and a general hospital had been located 
there. 

The following editorial hy Chas. E. Moss, late Lieutenant 
Colonel of the regiment, then editor of the Weekly Missourian, 
a newspaper published at Springtield. Missouri, under date 
of July 11th, is here inserted to show the chtu-acter and stand- 
ing of the regiment at that time. 

FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

This crack regiment is on duty in General Davidson's division. It 
has I'ecruited up its horses, and is admitted on all hands to be the best 
mounted and most perfectly drilled i-egiment of cavalry in the west. It 
has been in service some two years, and numbers 1,155 rank and file, 
all good, sound, healthy, intelligent men. At a review of the division, 
about a week since. Major General Schofield pronounced it the most 
perfect in drill, equipments, and soldierly carriage, of any cavalry regi- 
ment in his command. He also said that it had the best horses and 
best riders he had seen in service. 

Compliments from such a source must be very gratifying to the boys. 





i*(ii^i»»^|^ 






"« 




Lieut. Charles Dubois. 
Capt. J. M. Russell. 



John Fitzsimons, Sergt., Co. K. 
W. W. Carpentek, Lieut. Co. K. 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 121 

foi' several of General Schofield's favorite officers had their regimeutt^ 
present on that occasion, and such an opinion would have been pro- 
nounced unmerited. We must be pardoned for indulging in a little 
pleasure over the success of a regiment raised and brought into the 
tield through our labor, and for whose efficiency in soldierly accomplish- 
ments and drill we labored faithfully and zealously more than one yeai". 
We confess our gratification almost as great at the success of these 
boys as theirs can be. 

By the way, we learn that Lieutenant T, A. Bereman has been ap- 
pointed Captain of Company E. and is now in command of that compa- 
ny. He is a bold, hard-working, intelligent, brave, fighting officer, 
and we rejoice at his promotion. 

They have now one of the finest bands, under the leadership of A, G, 
Cunningham, in the service. It is said to surpass their old band, and 
this is saying a good deal, Al, knows how to discourse fine music, and 
we predict it will surpass any band in the ai^my. The instruments were 
purchased by subscription from the men, and the boys support it by 
voluntary contributions. The First Iowa Cavalry can beat the world in 
liberality. They never half do their work. 

The division, we are informed, has already moved towards the ene- 
my, but in what direction is not for us to say. The people may rely 
iil)on having a good report from the brave fellows. 

June 11th. Assistant Suro;eon Lothro}), heing sick and dis- 
abled, was ordered to report at Pilot Knob by the way of St. 
Louis. He was accompanied by Colonel Gower and seven sick 
men. to be transferred to hospitals nearest their homes. On ar- 
riving at St. Louis, the men were sent to their places of des- 
tination, and Assistant Surgeon Lothrop granted leave of ab- 
sence on account of illness ; from which he did not return 
until the resriment reached Bloomfield, Missouii, on the maicli 
to Little Rock, Arkansas. 

If one will examine the maps of Missouri and Arkansas, 
and refer to the preceding pages, it will l)e seen that from the 
date we left Clinton in lS<i2 to the j)resent time, our long and 
weary marches, our scouting by night and l>y day. in simsliiue. 
mud and .>^torni.->. our encoimters. skirmishes and l);ittles witli 
the enemy, have been almost exclusively among the hills and 
1« 



1 22 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

valleys, the gorges and fastnesses of the Ozark range of moun- 
tains, and with V)ut few exceptions with lawless bands of guer- 
illas and desperadoes, in the guise of " Confederate "* ■ soldiers, 
under the patronage of the so-called Confederate Governtnent. 

The line of march now to be taken up lies through the low, 
marshy districts of south-eastern Missouri and eastern Arkansas, 
where it will be impossible to march without the use of pontoon 
bridges and the construction of miles of "corduroy'' roads. 

The regiment, under command of Lieutenant Colonel Ander- 
son, Assistant Surgeon Ladd in charge of the hospital depart- 
ment, with the Eighth Missouri Cavalry, took up the line of 
march on the same day (11th), and arrived at Pilot Knob on 
the 15th, having marched ninety miles. On the 20th it encamped 
at Arcadia, about two miles distant from Pilot Knob. Here 
another cutting down of transportation took place. All the 
Sibley and wall tents were turned over, and officers and men 
were for the tirst time introduced to the ''pup tents,'' (small 
shelter tents. ) P^verything which could be dispensed with 
was stored, and all necessary preparations made for another 
campaign. This cavalry force was preparing to join Major 
(xeneral Fred Steele's forces, then at Helena and vicinity, in the 
i-ampaign against Little Rock, Arkansas. Everything being 
in readiness the army marched July 1st on the road to Frerl- 
ericktown. On arriving at Fredei'icktown the line of inarch 
was changed to a southerly direction, marching on a ••neigh- 
borhood" road leading from Fredericktown to (Ireenville, the 
county seat of Wayne county. Crossing Castor creek and the 
southern j)ortion of Lake Micota, or Black Mingo swamp, (one 
outlet of which was passed on a pontoon bridge,) it arrived at 
BloomtieKl on July 11th. having marched a distance of more 
than one hundred miles. 

The army remained here until the U>th. throwing up earth- 
works to protect the town from future attacks, procuring ra- 
ticms, reorganizing trains, and making other necessary i)repara- 
lions for the ex))edition. 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 128 

On the 14th Assistant Surgeon Lothiop reported for duty 

from sick leave of absence, and on the 18th was ordered by 

Krii^adier General Davidson to take charo:e of the General Field 

Hospital wliich was being established at this place. 

On the 17th the following complimentary order was issued 

l»y General Davidson : 

Headquakters Cavalry Division, 

Department of the Missouri. 

Bloomfield. July 17th. 1868. 
(iKXERAi. Order No. 24. 

The General commanding desires to express the gratification he feels 
in observing- the visible marks of improvement in the regiments of the 
division. Prompt from long habit to notice any violation of that sub- 
ordination which he thinks essential to success, he is none the less 
ready to acknowledge good soldiership when he sees it. 

He thanks you. officers and men. for your obedience and support. 

Comrades ! we begin to understand each other. We can now press 
forward I hope with mutual confidence. 

Let no acts of ours tarnish the arms of the Republic. 

By order of Brigadier General Davidson. 

Signed for YATUM. Lieut. <md A. A. A. Gen'l. 

Official : R. L. Freeman. A. A. A. G. 

Publish this order at the head of youi- company this evening at 
tattoo. 

Official : J. A. DoNNELL. Lieut. <ind Adji. 1st Iowa ("avalri/. 

fJuIy 19th. Pliny Wilcox, private Company G, died this 
morning, and was Imried with military honors. All the sick of 
the connnand. numbering nearly 250, having l)een previously 
ordered to the General Field Hos))ital, the army marched at 
seven o'clock this morning, and crossed the St. Francis rivei' 
oil a i)onto()n bridge at Chalk Bluft's on the 21st. Marehing on 
the Crowley Ridge road, it passed through (iainesville. the 
county seat of Greene c(mnty, Jonesboro. the eounty seat 
of Craighead county, and on the 27th c.'inijjed near the Si. 
Ki-aneis i-jxcr. three miles distant from a small town cMlled 
Wittsburg, situated in St. Francis county, having marched oih- 
hundred and forty-five miles since leaving Bloomheld. The 
;univ remain<'d here in c.-imp until the •')lst. Ci-owUy "> Ridge 



1 24 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVAI.RY. 

is a ridge of land extending in a nearly north and south direc- 
tion, from Greene county on the north to about four miles west 
of Helena in Phillips county on the south, and from a '^ divide" 
})etween the waters of the St. Francis and White rivers. It is 
from a half-mile to six or more miles in breadth. On either 
side of this ridge the land in many places is low and marshy 
and unfit for I'ultivation. A numljcr of springs are found on 
this ridge, but the water in the summer season is regarded by 
the inhabitants as unhealthy. Its elevation above the low 
lands on either side is from eight to ten feet, except in some 
places where it rises into small broken hills. Indications of the 
existence of a prehistoric race are found about the ridge in 
many places in the form of embankments, old fortifications, 
sun-dried clay mixed with stems and leaves of cane, human 
l)ones, pottery, arrow-heads, stone axes, etc. The bottom of a 
small lake in Ci'ittenden county is said to be paved with lirick, 
the work of an unknown people. Why the name '-Crowley'" 
is given to this ridge is not known to the writer. 

While in camp near Jonesboro. Captain .). I). Jenks, Ccmi- 
l)any I), and Lieutenant Jacob Hursh. Company F, with fift\' 
men from Companies 1), E and F. were sent with dispatches to 
Helena. This was a most daring undertaking. They, how- 
ever. })assed through a section of coimtry held by the enemy 
for a distance of one hundred miles without loss or accident on 
their part. On oiie occasion Captain Jenks captured General 
Walker's outposts, and tied the men to trees on the side of the 
road, then passed the rebel canip and through their pickets on 
the other side without molestation. It was certainly a most 
gallant afi'air. displaying courage and ))radence in a remarkable 
degree, and was duly recognized by the connnanding General 
in the following comiilimentary order: 

Healxjcakteks Davidson's ("avalkv Division. 
Department of the Missouri. 
('AMI' AT WiTTSBUKG. Akk.. Jnlv "iTth. 1S68. 
(Jenekal Order No. 2S. 

The Oeneral commanding thiss division desires to thank in g-eneral 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 125 

orders Captain James D. Jenks, of the First Iowa Cavalry, and the 
fifty brave men of that regiment under his command. 

Starting at a point one hundred miles from Helena, they marched 
through a country held by the enemy and infested by guerillas, dashing 
upon his outposts whenever he found them ; crossing the L'Anguille 
river under the fire of the enemy's pickets ; taking six prisoners on his 
road -, wounding one officer and one private, who fell into our hands : 
destroying his dispatches and communicating their contents to the 
I'ommander at Helena, without losing an item. 

His whole conduct presents an example of brilliant cavalry daring 
worthy of study and imitation of every officer in this command. 

By order of Brigadier General Davidson. 

Signed, A. S. MONTGOMERY, Lieut, and A. A. A. G. 

N. B. — Have this read at the head of your squadron this evening at 
retreat. 

A supply of rations from Helena having- Ijeen received, the 
march was continued in a southerly direction toward Helena, 
crossinof the L'Anguille river near Marianna, August 6th. 
When ^vithin about thirty miles from Helena, the direction of 
the march was changed toward the west, and on the 9th the 
command camped on White river, near Clarendon, Arkansas. 
The forces under Major (leneral Steele were concentrated at 
this place prepai'atory to the advance upon (xeneral Price's 
forces in and around Little Rock. 

On the 13th, Captains McQueen, (V)mpany A. and Jones. 
Company C, \\nth a detachment of 400 men of the regiment, em- 
harked on a gunboat and barges, with orders to proceed down 
White river, eflfect a landing on the west side, and make a re- 
connoissance for the purpose of ascertaining the position of the 
enemy. A landing was effected at Aberdeen, in the presence 
of a force of rebel })ickets. After the landing of the detach- 
ment was effected, the gunboat came to anchor in the river for 
a cover should it be necessary to retreat. The detachment 
then made a hasty march into the country toward the west, 
forcing the ret)el picket to retreat. They then marciuHl up the 
river to DuvalTs Bluffs, a distance of tifty-tivc mil(^s. F'rom 
that ))lace they inarched in a westerly direction to a i)oint neai- 



126 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

Brownsville, at which place it Avas ascertained that the enemy 
was in camp on Bayou Metoe, a branch of the Arkansas river, 
about ten miles distant east from Brownsville. Countermarch- 
ing, the detachment discovered a greatly superior force of the 
enemy upon a prairie. Our forces were marching in the tim- 
ber on the border of the prairie, thus preventing our presence 
being known to them. But the prairie "had to be crossed,'' 
a most impetuous charge was made, taking the enemy com- 
pletely by surprise, and a running tight of live miles ensued, 
the enemy making a rapid retreat. After which the detach- 
ment arrived at Aberdeen and re-embarked on the boat and 
l)arges, and reached Clarendon on the evening of the 15th. 

On the 18th the regiment with the brigade and division 
crossed White river at Clarendon by ferry, and marched in the 
direction of Brownsville. On the 22d it camped at Dead Man's 
Lake. On the 24th it was at Two Prairie bayou, and on the 
25th it was skirmishing with General Marmaduke's cavalry up 
to Brownsville, driving them from that place to their entrench- 
ments at Bayou Metoe. Brownsville, the county seat of Prairie 
county, is a small town situated on a Ijroad, flat and extensive 
prairie, about thirty milei^ distant in an easterly direction from 
Little Rock. The division camped near Brownsville. While 
near this place, at the request of General Davidson, Lieutenant 
Barnes, Company K, with twenty of his men, performed a 
daring exploit in the capture of a spy. Information had been 
received that a spy was at his home within the rebel lines, and 
that a regiment of the enemy was in camj) near his house. 
Lieutenant Barnes and his });irty reache^l the house at daylight. 
The man was taken prisoner, and the party returned to camp 
without accident. Lieutenant Barnes and his "^boys" received 
the thanks of the General for their successful and daring under- 
taking. During all this time the regiment was continuously on 
l)icket and outpost duty, making reconnoissances, etc. On the 
27th was fought the battle of Bayou Metoe, in which the regi- 
ment took a very prominent part, driving the enemy across the 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 127 

bayou and making a dashing charge to save the only bridge 
across that deep and miry stream fi-om destruction. The charge 
was led by Colonel Anderson, under a heavy fire from artillery 
and infantry upon the other side of the bayou. As the enemy 
had made preparations for the destruction of the 1)ridge in case 
of necessity, the material was fired by them, the bridge burned, 
and the charge of the regiment into the very jaws of those bat- 
teries was of no avail. In this charge Colonel Anderson had 
his horse shot under him. and the regiment lost one killed and 
thirty-six wounded, one mortally, as foUoAVs : Hiram Leland. 
Company A, killed; Harvey Wing, Company E, mortally 
wounded ; C. U. Martin, Company A. and R. E. Granger, 
C/ompany K, severely wovuided tmd missing ; Lieutenant R. M. 
Reynolds, A. Vanaerman, Com])any A, Orrin B. Crane and S. 
M. Scott, Company B. Al)raham Stuttsman, John Simmons, 
Company C, James M. Russell, Company K, N. W. Welliver. 
C'ompany L, and W. O. Gulick, Company M, severely wound- 
ed ; A. J. Wilson, Company A, Wellington Allen, George R. 
Carney, E. J. Smith. Company B, S. Chapman. J. Boltz. S. 
B. Walch and W. O. P. Keever. Company C, C. (\mterburg. 
R. Walker. I. N. Hall and J. Wiliford. Company E. Charles 
l)ul)()is and E. HaruKm, C'ompany K, and James Decker, Com- 
pany M, slightly wounded. The troops were noAv withdi'awn 
to Brownsville. 

Keconnoissances were made in various directions to ascertain 
the best route to Little Rock. The road leading hy Shallow 
Ford and Ashley's Mill was selected. The movement l)egan on 
September 6th and ended on the 10th with our army in full 
))ossession of Little Rock, anfl the rebel army in an inglorious 
ictreat to a more congenial place in "Dixie."" 

On the Hth the army marched in a westerly direction. o)i 
the road to Little Kock. and on the 9th camped about one niih' 
north of the Arkansas river, and ten miles east from the city. 
On the 10th the mai-ch was contiiuied. and the entire cavalrv 



1 28 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

force was actively engaged in skirmishing, making reconnois- 
8ances, etc. 

During the night of the 9th and the morning of the 10th, 
General Davidson had prepared a place for crossing the river, 
and laid a pontoon bridge for that purpose near Ashley's Mill, 
about eight miles distant below Little Rock, (bmpany K. 
Lieutenant Barnes in command, was ordered in the early morn- 
ing on an old road leading to the right of the army. They 
reached the river about two miles aljove the place where the 
pontoon bridge had been laid, then following a road leading 
down the river to the bridge, they arrived at that place a short 
time in advance of the cavalry division. On its arrival Ritter's ' 
brigade with Clarkson's battery was ordered to Buck's Ford, a 
distance of about four miles down the river, then in possession 
of the enemy, to make a demonstration and engage their atten- 
tion while the crossing was being accomplished at this place. 
The regiment then taking the advance. Company K being the 
advance guard, crossed the river on the pontoon bridge ; the 
Tenth Illinois Cavalry crossing the river by fording about the 
same time, immediately above the bridge. 

Prior to this time, when the construction of the bridge wan 
nearly finished, it was discovered by the enemy, and a battery 
from the timber upon the opposite side of the river opened fire 
upon it, ])ut was soon silenced by the Eleventh Ohio Battery, 
which had been previously placed in position. 

Immediately upon the completion of the bridge, the Fortieth 
Iowa and Twenty-seventh Wisconsin Infantry Regiments, from 
Colonel Fugleman's brigade, were ordered to cross the l)ridge, 
for the purpose of taking possession of the woods in which the 
enemy's battery had been concealed. After the cavalry divis- 
ion had crossed, the infantry regiments were recalled, and the 
Fortieth Iowa left to guard the bridge. 

On reaching the south bank of the river the Second Brigade 
was placed in advance, and the regiment ordered to the front as 
skirmishers. During the entire fisfht it was in the extreme 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 129 

front, sometimes fighting dismounted, at other times charging 
with drawn sabers. At one time during the day they recap- 
tured two howitzers which had been captured from the Tenth 
Illinois Cavalry. The loss of the regiment was slight when its 
exposed position during the day is taken into consideration — 
one being killed Charles T. Magill, Company D, and four 
wounded. Major J. W. Caldwell, Anglos P. Sala, Company A, 
and A. J. Henflrickson and E. J. Davis, Company I. In ref- 
erence to the part taken by the regiment in this engagement 
Brigadier General J. W. Davidson in his report said : " I or- 
dered a vigorous advance of Glover's brigade, and when they 
iiecame exhausted, within two miles of the city, threw Ritter's 
brigade and Stange's howitzers, supported by two squadrons of 
the First Iowa Cavalry, under the gallant Captain Jenks, into 
the city and on the heels of the enemy, saber in hand. At 
seven o'clock p. m. the Capital was surrendered by the acting 
city authorities, and the United States Arsenal, uninjured, with 
what stores remained in it, was repossessed. 

Our entire loss, in killed, wounded and missing, did not ex- 
ceed 100. while the enemy's loss w^as much greater ; 1,000 men 
were taken prisoners. Among the killed was a Colonel of cav- 
ab-y. 

The following Iowa regiments took part in the capture of 
Little Kock : The First and six companies of the Third (Cav- 
alry ; Twenty-ninth, Thirty-second, Thirty-third, Thirty-sixth 
and Fortieth Infantry. The battle was fought almost exclu- 
sirely by the cavalry division. 

Following are copies of the official reports of Major General 
Steele and Brigadier General J. W. Davidson, of the expedi- 
tion, of llic engagement and subsequent capture of the city i 
also Briga<li('r (leneral Davidson's congratulatory order: 

KKPOKT OF MAJOR (iENEKAL STEELE. 

HeADVI AKTEKS ARKANSAS EXPEDITION. 

Little Rook, Akk.. 8fept. 12. 1863. 

<iENEKAi.: — I have the honor to submit the following as a suminai\T 
17 



130 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

of the operations which led to the occupation of the Capital by the ex- 
(leditionary army under my command. 

On the 31st day of July I arrived at Helena, and pursuant to instruo 
tions from Major General Grant, reported by letter to the commander 
of the Sixteenth Army Corps for instructions relative to the fitting out 
of an expedition against Little Rock. General Hurlburt placed under 
my command all the troops at Helena, and the cavalry division under- 
Brigadier General Davidson, then operating in Arkansas. The garri- 
son at Helena had been reinforced by two brigades of Kimball's divis- 
ion, which had just arrived from Snyder's Bluff, and wex'e suffering 
severely from the malarious influences of the Yazoo country. The pro- 
portion of sick among the Helena troops was also very large. Three 
regiments were designated to remain at Helena, and these, with the 
sick and convalescents of the whole command, were to constitute the 
garrison of that place. The troops at Helena designated for the expe- 
dition amounted to about six thousand (6,000) of all arms. There were 
three six-gun and one four-gun batteries, including six ten-pound Par- 
rotts. The cavalry. First Indiana and Eighth Kansas, amounted to less 
than five hundi*ed (oOO) for duty. The First Indiana had three I'ifled 
guns. 

Davidson reported something less than six thousand (6.000) present 
for duty in his cavalry division, and eighteen (18) pieces of artillery, 
showing an ag-gregate of about twelve thousand (12.000) for duty. 
Brigadier Generals Kimball and Solomon obtained leave of absence, 
and the resignation of General Ross was accepted, which left me with 
})ut one general officer. Davidson. 

The resignation of my A. A. General was accepted just at this time, 
and there were no officers of the Quai'termastor or subsistence depart- 
ment at Helena, except Captain Allen. A. C. S.. and Captain Noble. A. 
Q. M.. who were in charge of the stores in the depot. I ordered the 
establishment of camps for the sick a^nd convalescents, and organized 
the coniniand in the best manner possible. Davidson pushed on to 
( 'larendon and established a ferry for crossing the troops, corduroying 
two miles of bottom, and laying down the pontoon bridges across the 
Kock Kac bayou. On the 10th of August the Helena troops, organized 
into a division under Colonel now Bingadier General S. A. Rice, marched 
toward Clarendon, with orders to r-econstruct the bridges which had 
been destroyed by the rebels, and to make all necessary i-epairs on the 
road, which was in bad condition. Kimball's division, imder Colonel 
McLean, followed ■ the next day. The whole command was at Clar- 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 131 

endon and commenced crossing the river on the 17th of August. 
Before the crossing was effected I found my operations encum 
bered by one thousand (1,000) sick. To have established a hospital 
and depot at this point would have involved the necessity of occupying 
both sides of the river. DuvalFs Bluff was a more healthy location. 
and the route from there to Little Rock jjossessed many advantages 
over the other as a line of operations. I therefore ordered all the 
stores and sick to be sent to DuvalPs Bluff by water. The enemy had 
constructed rifle-pits in a commanding position fronting the crossing on 
Rock Rae bayou, but on the approach of Davidson's division had fallen 
back, leaving only a picket. This position could easily have been 
turned by the road leading up from Harris's ferry. On the 22d 
Davidson was directed to move with his division to Dead Man's Lake 
and recounoiter the enemy's position at Brownsville. On the "23d the 
rest of the command moved to Duvall's Bluff, the transports carrying 
the sick and stores under convoy of the gunboats. An advantageous 
site was selected on the bluff for the hospital and depot, and details im- 
mediately ordered to throw up entrenchments, cut away the timber on 
the flanks to give the gunboats clear range, to erect sheds, etc. 

On the 24th Davidson advanced to Two Prairie bayou, and on the 
•Joth continued the march, skirmishing with Marmaduke's cavalry up to 
Brownsville, dislodging him at that place, and driving him into his en- 
trenchments at Bayou Metoe on the 26th. The attack was renewed on 
the 27th, and the enemy driven from his work on the bayou, and fired 
the bridge as he retreated. Davidson was unable to save the bridge, 
everything having been prepared for its destrviction beforehand. The 
bayou was deep and miry, and the pursuit of the rebels being thus 
fliecked. Davidson withdrew to his camp at Brownsville, leaving pickets 
at the crossings on the bayou. I received information that True"s brig- 
ade from Memphis would arrive at Clarendon on the 29th, and immedi- 
ately sent a jjarty to construct a bridge across Rock Rae bayou, and a 
ferry boat to cross the troops over White river. I'rue crossed on the 
;{(tth of August, and on the 1st of September moved up to Dead Man's 
l.ake. The advance from Duvall's Bluff also commenced on the 1st. the 
place having been j)ut in such a state of defense that the convalescents 
and a small detail left there were deemed sufficient to hold it against 
;my force the enemy would be likely to send against it. On the 2d in- 
stant all my available force was concentrated at Brownsville. It had 
been ascertained that the military i-oad on the south side of Bayou Me- 
loe passed thi'ougli a srction iniiip,ictica()l<' for any military ()])eration — 



132 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

swamp, timber, and entang-lements of vines and undergrowth, and was 
commanded by the enemy's works. I therefore directed Davidson to 
make a reconnoissance in force around the enemy's left by way of Aus- 
tin, and, if practicable, to penetrate his lines and ascertain both his 
strength and position. Rice's division was ordered forward to make a 
diversion in Davidson's favor on Bayou Metoe. Rice drove in the ene- 
my's pickets, shelled the woods on the south side of the bayou for several 
hours, and encamped for the night. In the meantime Davidson pushed 
his reconnoissance until the numerous I'oads on his flanks and rear ren- 
dered it dangerous for him to proceed any further. The great length 
to which it would increase our line of communication with our base 
rendered it impracticable for us to attack the enemy on his left flank. 
This reconnoissance occupied two days. 

By this time I had collected information in regard to the road lead- 
ing by Shallow Ford and Ashley's Mills to the Arkansas and the right 
of the enemy's works, which determined me to take that route. The 
march to the front was resumed on the 6th. Here we foimd ourselves 
again encumbered with the sick — near 700. True's brigade and Ritter's 
brigade of cavalry were left to guard the supply train and the sick, (^n 
the 7th we reached the Arkansas near Ashley's Mills. At this point 
Davidson's cavalry had a sharp skirmish with the enemy. The 8th and 
9th were employed in reconnoissances. repairing the road back to Bayou 
Metoe. and in bringing up the sick and the supply train, with the brig- 
ade left at Brownsville. 

I now definitely determined upon a plan of attack. Davidson was 
directed to lay the pontoon bridge at an eligible point, throw his divis- 
ion across the Arkansas river, and move directly on Little Rock, threat- 
ening the enemy's right flank and reai-. while I moved with the rest of 
the force on the north flank and assailed the right of his works. Dur- 
ing the night of the 9th Davidson made his dispositions for crossing the 
Arkansas, and on the morning of the 10th had the pontoon bridge laid. 
The Second Division was ordered to report to him at daylight to assist 
in covering his crossing. The bridge was placed in a bend of the 
river, and the ground on the south side was so completely swept by 
Davidson's artillery that the enemy could not plant n battery in any po- 
sition from which he could interrupt the cnjssing. 

Two regiments of infantry passed over the river to drive the enemy's 
skirmishers out of the woods, and the cavalry division passed on with- 
out interruption until they reached Bayou Fourche, where the enemy 
were drawn up in line to receive them. The rebels he\d this position 
obstinately until our artillery on the opposite side of the river was 



mSTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 133 

opened on their flank and rear, when they gave way and were steadily 
pushed by Davidson, the artillei-y constantly playing upon them from 
the other side of the river. Our two columns marched nearly abreast 
on either side of the Arkansas. Volumes of smoke in the direction of 
Little Rock indicated to us that the rebels had evacuated their works on 
the north side of the river and were burning their pontoon bridges. 
Heavy clouds of dust moving down toward Davidson on the other side 
of the river made me apprehensive that the enemy contemplated falling 
upon him with his entire force. He was instructed in such an event to 
form upon the beach, where his flanks could be protected by our artillery 
on the other side, and where aid might be sent to him by a ford. But 
they were in full retreat. Marmaduke's cavalry only were disputing 
Davidson's entry of the city. The rebels had fired their pontoon bridge 
across the Arkansas at the city, and several railroad cars. Two loco- 
motives were also on fire, but were saved by us ; ])art of the pontoons 
were also saved. Six steamboats were entii-ely destroyed by fire, and 
we are informed that Price intended to have blown up the Arsenal, but 
was pressed so close that he failed in this. 

Our cavalry was too much exhausted to pursue the enemy's retreatr 
ing columns far on the evening of the 10th. Next morning Merrill's 
and Clayton's brigades renewed the chase and followed them twenty 
miles, taking a number of prisoners and causing the enemy to destroy 
part of his train. Little Rock was formally surrendered by the munici- 
pal authorities on the evening of the lOth. Price had undoubtedly 
intended to give us battle in his inti'enchments. but was entirely sur- 
prised by our movements across the Arknnsas. and did not suspect it 
until after the pontoon bridge was laid. When it was reported to him 
that our infantry were crossing, he took it for granted that our whole 
army was moving to cut off' his retreat to Arkadelphia. I have been 
informed by citizens that (General Cabell, with about four thousand 
(4,000) troops from Fort Smith, had joined Price in his retreat, he hav- 
ing failed to reach here in time to assist in the defense of the place, I 
marched to Ashley's Mills on the morning of the 10th with not more 
than seven thousand (7,000) troops, having parked the trains and left 
a strong guard to protect them and the sick. The operations of the 
army fi-om the time that I commenced organizing it at Helena have 
occupied exactly forty days. 

Our entire loss in killed, wounded and prisoners will not exceed one 
hundred (100.) The enemy's is greater. espe<nally in prisoners — at 
least one thousand (1.000.) 

I .'(hall reserve the li.st of cii.suiiltics and my special recommendations 



134 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

for a future communication. However, I will say that Davidson and 

his cavalry division deserve the highest commendations. 

I enclose Brigadier General Davidson's report. 

Very respectfully, your ob't servant, 

FRED. STEELE. 

Major Oeneral Commanding. 
Major General Schofield. 

Com,man(ling Department of Missouri. 

Headquarters Cavalry Division, 

Department of the Missouri, 
Little Rock, Arkansas, September 12th. 1863. 

Colonel : — I have the honor to report the operations of my division 
on the 10th instant, the day of the capture of Little Rock. 

The plan agreed upon by General Steele the preceding day was that 
lie. with the whole infantry force, should move up the north bank of 
the Arkansas directly upon the enemy's works, while my cavalry divis- 
ion should force the passage of the river, move up the south bank, and 
assail the city in the rear. All necessary arrangements were made that 
night. Lieutenant Colonel Caldwell. Captains Hadley and Gerster, of 
my staff, worked all night at the cutting of the steep bank of the river, 
the location of the batteries, and the laying of the bridge. 

A division of infantry under Colonel Engleman was placed tempora- 
rily at my disposition, and was in position above the crossing at day- 
light. So, also, were Hadl(;}y's and Stangei-'s batteries and the Fifth 
and p]leventh Ohio. Merrill's and Glover's brigades were massed out 
of sight behind the crossing at eight a. m., and the laying of the pon- 
toon bridge was completed at that hour. Ritter's brigade with Clark- 
son's battery was ordered to make a demonstration four miles below at 
Buck's ford, then held ])y the enemy. The passage was effected by 
eleven a. .\i.. all three brigades crossing at the same point, the opposi- 
tion of the enemy not lasting fifteen minutes imder the concentrated fire 
of oiu- batteries. 

No further opposition was met with by my division until we reached 
Fourche bayou, five miles fi-om Little Rock. Hero we found the enemy, 
consisting of Marmaduke's cavalry, dismoiuited. and Tappan's brigade 
of infantry, with two batteries, strongly i)osted. 

A sharp fight of Glover"s bi'igade on one road and MerrilFs on anoth- 
er leading on the main one, during which the Second Brigade lost two 
howitzers, drove the enemy from this position toward the city. Every 
advantageous foot of ground from this point was warmly contested by 
them, my cavalry disTnounting and taking it afoot through the timbei- 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 135 

find cornfields. I had previously sent an officer of my escort. Lieuten - 
ant Armstrong, with a g-uidon. to follow along- the bank of the river to 
mark the progress of my column to General Steele. The fire of his bat- 
tei'ies from the opposite bank progressively was of service to us. 

My advance was here somewhat slow, from the fact that the enemy, 
finding themselves threatened in the rear, evacuated their works in 
front of General Steele, and I did not know what moment their whole 
force might be thrown upon me. I received a messag^e from General 
Steele in such event to withdraw my horses vmder the bluff bank of the 
river on the bar. and his batteries would protect my flanks. Finding, 
however, that the opposition of the enemy was not stubborn enough to 
warrant the belief that they were all in front of me, I ordered a vigor- 
ous advance of Glover's brigade, and when they became exhausted with- 
in two miles of the city, threw Ritter's brigade and Stangei-'s howitzers, 
supported by two squadrons of First Iowa Cavalry, under the gallant Cap- 
tain Jenks. into the city and on to the heels of the enemy, saber in 
hand. At seven p. m. the Capital of Arkansas was formally surren- 
dered by the acting city authorities, and the United States Arsenal, un- 
injured, and with what stores remained in it. was ■• repossessed." 

Later in the evening General Steele, whose forces had entered the 
works on the opposite side of the river, came over, the enemy not being- 
able to entirely destroy their bridge or boats. A column was organized 
under Colonels Merrill and Clayton to pursue vigorously next morning. 

My loss does not exceed, so far as known. 60 killed and wounded. 
That of the enemy is not known. Among their killed is Colonel Cosley, 
of Dobbin's former regiment. 

My whole staff — Lieutenant (.'olonel Caldwell. Captains Hadley and 
Gerster. Lieutenants Montgomery and McGonnegle. Gray and Sprague, 
and Surgeon Smith. Quartermaster Johnston. Captain Thompson. C. S.. 
served me faithfully throughout the day. The brigade commanders, es- 
l)ocially Colonel (41over. Second Brigade, deserve honorable mention. 
( 'olonel Glover deserves his promotion as a general officer. Lieutenant 
Colonel Caldwell, whose untiring devotion and energy never flags dur- 
ing the night or day. deserves for his gallantry and varied accomplish- 
ments as a cavalry officer promotion to the rank of a g'eneral officer. 

Beyond these I must refer to the reports of brigade commanders 
herewith inclosed for the many cases of individual good judgment and 
gallantry displayed. 

I am. sir. your obedient servant. 

J. W. DAVIDSON. Hrifi. (r'ni. 

Coi.. J. H. M,\NrKK. <'hii-l' (if Sfdj: 



1 36 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

Headquarters Cavalry Division, 

Department of the Missouri, 
Little Rock, Arkansas, September 13th, 1863. 
CtEneral Orders No. 62. 

Soldiers of the cavalry division ! I congratulate you that your long 
and weary march is at length terminated by victory. Little Rock — the 
Capital of the State of Arkansas — the key of the Trans-Mississippi De- 
partment — is in our hands. The United States Arsenal, uninjured, is 
"re-possessed." The feet of the rebel army, who but a day ago filed 
with downcast heads through the streets of this city, will tread the sands 
of Arkansas no more. 

But, comrades ! you have gained two victories on the same day. 
Though flushed with success — though entering this city when the dark- 
ness of night would have covered up misdeeds — though your passions 
were stirred that our soldiers were shot from their saddles within the 
suburbs of the city — no outrage upon its defenseless inhabitants has 
stained your hands. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your 
conduct has more than repaid me for many an anxious day and sleep- 
less night. For you, may there be continuous success wherever it may 
be our lot to go. For me, I have no higher aim, amd ask no greater 
honor, than to lead such men. J. W. DAVIDSON, 

Brig. Gen. Commanding. 

During this campaign. Major William Thompson, Captain 
Robert L. Freeman, Company K. and Second Lieutenant Samuel 
T. Craig, were detached on staff duty with General Davidson — 
Major Thompson serving as Inspector General, Captain Free- 
man Adjutant General, and Lieutenant Craig as Ordnance OflS- 
cer. The following copy of an official report of Lieutenant 
Craig is characteristic of the man — ever prompt and actively 
energetic in the perfonnance of his official duties : 

Duvall's Bluff. Arkansas, August 26th. 1863. 
Brigadier General J. W. Davidson. 

Commanding Cavalry Division. Brownsville. Arkansas : 
Dear Sir : — In compliance with your special order I took charge' of 
the steamboat Progress at Clarendon. Arkansas, and proceeded down 
White river, and thence up the Mississippi river, arriving at Helena. 
Arkansas, at midnight on the 17th inst. I delivered your dispatch to 
the Adjutant General at post, to be forwarded to General Steele the fol- 
lowing morning, he having moved his forces for Clarendon. Arkansas. 






CdL WILLIAM THDMPSD 



N, 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 137 

the 15th inst. We took coal and proceeded to Memphis, Tennessee, ar- 
riving there at eight o'clock on the 18th inst.. and delivered your letter 
and presented requisitions for ammunition to Lieutenant Colonel Ben- 
more. A. A. General. Sixteenth Army (^orps. District Memphis ; the 
steamer Progress being much damaged, caused by running into the 
river banks and breaking its wheel. 

The stream. White river, is so nai-row and crooked, and the captain 
and pilot either had determined to sink the boat or were so frightened 
that they caused the vessel to run at such a rate of speed that she 
could not make the bends of the river at many places without striking 
the bow and then whirling clear around, and being a stern-wheel boat 
she was much damaged. Captain Sweet required until the 20th inst 
to repair her. Having ascertained from the Ordnance Department at 
Helena and Memphis that Lieutenant Hubbard did not procure ammu- 
nition for the batteries on account of the informality of the requisitions. 
I reported to General Hurlburt and informed him of the necessity of 
your getting the ammunition, and he ordered the Ordnance Depart- 
ment at Memphis to issue ammunition upon my requisitions for batter- 
ies and small arms required by the division. 

The steamer being repaired and landed we proceeded down the Mis- 
sissippi river at three o'clock p. M. on the 20th inst. ; arrived at Helena 
the 21st inst. at six o'clock a. m. Quartermaster Noble, of the post, 
took charge of the steamer and loaded hei- with convalescent soldiers of 
the Twenty-seventh Wisconsin Infantry Volunteers and commissary 
stores. We proceeded from Helena on the 22dinst. at six o'clock a. m.: 
arrived at the mouth of White river at three o'clock i*. :\r. : and we were 
ordered by the Admiral in charge of gunboats and convoys to assist 
the steamer Sallie List in towing two barges of hay up White river, but 
refused to furnish us with convoy. We proceeded up White river, and 
our cargoes being wide and the stream very narrow, and the night very 
dark, we attemjited to anchor, but our anchors being insufficient to hold 
the cargoes, (the hay barges being placed between the steamers, the 
front bai'ge extending about half its length in front, ) with some diffi- 
culty we steamed up the rivei- until we arrived where the banks of the 
river wer-e low and marshy. We tied up at the cut-off. about two miles 
below St. Charles landing, on the night of the 23d inst.. and by platt- 
ing lumber on the shore we were able to put out a picket guard, but were 
not molested during the night, for it was impossible for an enemy to 
ajjproach us on account of the marshy ground. At daylight we pro- 
ceeded, and while passing Crockett's landing about seven o'clock \. >i.. 

18 



I 38 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

the enemy fired into our boats several volleys with small arms from the 
south banks of the river and wounded six of our men on the steamer 
Progress. The Lieutenants in charge of the convalescent soldiers not 
showing any disposition to command notwithstanding they outranked me, 
I took command and with the assistance of my ordnance sergeant ral- 
lied the convalescent soldiers, and forming protection for the men by 
placing boxes of hardtack around the outer railing of the boat and 
placing their knapsacks upon the same, they were caused to kneel down 
and fire upon the enemy without waiting for further orders. There 
being two surgeons on the steamer Sallie List, the wounded were taken 
below and properly cared for and are doing well. Having one section 
of the Fifth Ohio Battery on board. I placed the gun on the front of the 
barge of hay. which extended in front of the boats about half its length, 
and the sergeant in charge of gun was enabled to shell the timber in which 
the enemy were concealed. This had the desired effect and dispersed 
them. I had pl?iced guards over the pilots from the fact that the one 
piloting the steamer Progress had threatened to turn over our cargo to 
the enemy before we returned. But it so happened that when we were 
fired upon Captain Sweet was at the •• wheel'" and stood unflinchingly 
at his post, notwithstanding his pilot house was pierced with the en- 
emy's bullets, showing the dangerous position he occupied. The pilot 
house of the steamer Sallie List was well protected with sheet iron, but 
the pilot abandoned his post, and the mate of the same had suffered or 
allowed the boat to be partially cut loose from our boat, so that she was 
dragging us to shoi'e. evidently planned to land us so that the enemy 
could board our boats. But with the assistance of my ordnance Ser- 
geant with revolvers in hand we went aboard of her and demanded that 
the mate make her fast to our boat, which he did immediately, and with 
the untiring energy and efficiency of Captain Sweet we steamed up the 
river : and undei" my directions the sergeant in charge of the piece of 
artillery shelled the banks of the river on the south all the way up to 
Clarendon wherever the banks of the river were sufficiently high for 
the enemy to approach the river. A squad of colored people at one 
time appi'oached the river and made signs for us to land, but I didn't 
think it prudent. 

Our loss was six wounded — three severely and three slightly. One 
was Brown, clerk of the sutler of Merrill's Horse ; the other five were 
of the Twenty-seventh Wisconsin Infantry Volunteers. 

We arrived at Clarendon. Arkansas, on the 24th inst.. and were or- 
dered by the commander of the post to await for convoy. We pro- 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 139 

ceeded from Clarendon, Arkansas, with convoy, at two o'clock the 25th 
inst., and arrived at this place at seven o'clock p. M. on the 26th inst.. 
and at the same hour of the day commenced loading on wagon train 
all the ordnance for the purpose of transporting the same to your com- 
mand at Brownsville. Arkansas. 

Hoping that the above and foregoing report will be a sufficient ex- 
planation for my seeming delay, 

I have the honor to be. General. 

Your obedient servant. 

SAMUEL T. CRAIG, 
2d Lieut. Co. H. 1st Iowa Cav. Vol.. 

and Acting Ordnance Officer Cav. Div.. 

Department of the Missouri. 

It is l)ut justice to all my old comrades to say that during 
this entire expedition they were placed in many trying and dan- 
gerous positions and always acquitted themselves with honor ; 
winning the admiration, respect and esteem of their command- 
ing Generals l)y their gallant bravery and soldierly bearing. 
General Davidson and the regiment were ever afterward warm 
friends. A beautiful and costly saber was presented him, pur- 
rhased by the privates of the regiment, as a token of their 
friendship and love for their old commander. 

During the night of the 10th, the regiment bivouacked in the 
southern sul)url)s of the city. On the 11th it camped on the 
bank of the Arkansas river, about three miles cast from the 
city. 

On the 12th Assistant Surgeon Lothrop arrived, having been 
relieved from duty in charge of the General Field Hospital at 
Hloomfield, Missouri. 

On the 25th the camp was removed to the southern suburbs of 
the city, near the United States Arsenal. 

October l.st Colonel Anderson, by order of General l)a\ idson. 
was placed in command of the Second Cavalry Brigade, Major 
Caldwell being in command of the regiment. 

October 15th it again removed cam[) to a i)lace about two 
miles down the river, where it remained durinii" the winter. 



140 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

Here the men built comfoitable cabins for themselves and sheds 
for their horses, doing picket, outpost duty and scouting. 
During the latter part of the campaign which ended in the cap- 
ture of Little Rock, and the month of October, the regiment, 
as also the whole army, suffered severely from sickness conse- 
quent upon that terrible march through the swamps and fens of 
Missouri and Arkansas — 

" Where the will-o'-the wisps and glow-worms shine. 

In bull-i-ushes and in brake : 
Where waving mosses shroud the pine. 
And the cedar grows and the poisonous vine 

Is spotted like the snake" — 

Avhere the very air was surcharged with deadly miasm. Many 
brave men fell victims to diarrha?a, malaria and typhus. Others 
lingered for months in doubtful convalescence, while others 
completely broken in health were furloughed and discharged 
from service. As the cool weather of the autunm approached, 
the health of the regiment improved. 

The following memoranda are extracts from my notes made 
at the time : 

October ISth. Assistant Surgeon Ladd. a most genial com- 
panion, having resigned the service, left for his northern home. 

A Board of Examining Surgeons, with Assistant Surgeon Lo- 
throp as president, was organized to-day, for the purpose of 
examining soldiers of the cavalry division recommended for dis- 
charge on certiticates of disability. 

25th. Intelligence received to-day that General Marmaduke 
with 2, 5(H) men and twelve pieces of artillery were marching 
upon Pine Blufts, a town about fifty miles distant east from 
Little Rock, on the south bank of the Arkansas river, in Jeifer- 
son county, (leneral Steele at once ordered reinforcements 
from Brownsville, Benton, and from this j)lace. A detachment 
of 250 men from the regiment, with one secticm of the Twenty- 
fifth Ohio Battery, under Lieutenant Colonel J. W. Caldwell, 
marched innne<}iatelv and reached Pine Bluffs earlv the next 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 141 

morning (26th), and found that General Marmaduke had 
attacked the place on the 25th. ; that he had met with a hot 
reception and a most disastrous repulse, and was now on a ret- 
rograde march to a more temperate climate. 

The town is pleasantly situated on a high bluff, and receives 
its name from its location and the extensive pine forests in the 
vicinity. It is one of the most important posts estabhshed on 
the river, and necessary to be held in order to insure uninter- 
rupted navigation of the river. Colonel Powell Clayton, with 
a force of 550 men, constituted the garrison, and with this small 
force he had defeated General Marmaduke with his vastly supe- 
rior force. Lieutenant Colonel H. C. Caldwell, Third Iowa 
(Cavalry, with his force from Benton, having ari'ived some time 
before noon, the combined force with all the available force at 
this post was ordered by General Steele to pursue the enemy. 
Waiting until five p. m. for the arrival of the force from Browns- 
ville, (which by the way did not make its appearance at aU,) 
the command, under Lieutenant Colonel H. C. Caldwell, 
marched in a southwesterly direction on the road leading to Tu- 
lip, a small town in Dallas county, and during the night 
reached the Saline river, at a place about thirty miles distant 
from Pine Bluffs. Crossing the river in the early morning, it 
arrived at Tulip at about three p. m. Marmaduke's forces were 
reported to be at Princeton, a town some four or five miles dis- 
tant to the south. On arriving at Princeton it was found that 
he was again on the mai'ch for a more congenial cliniate. 

Believing further pursuit to be useless, the command marched 
on the road leading to Arkadelphia, arriving at that place at 
two A. M. on the 29th. capturing a large number of horses and 
nmles while on the march. At Arkadelphia two Lieuten.-mts 
nnd a few soldiers were taken prisoners ; three six-mule teams, 
belonofinof to the rebel government, a large amount of mail mat- 
ter, and 1,370 Confederate dollars, proceeds of the sale of relx'l 
salt, were captured. 

On the 30th a countermarch was connnenced by the wav of 



142 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

the Ai'kadelphia and Little Rock road, and the regiment arrived 
in camp at Little Rock November 1st, having been out seven 
days and marched two hundred and fifty miles. 

November lith. The number of our brigade was changed 
from the second to the third. 

November 27th. Surgeon Cochran returned from duty on 
the staflf of Major General Herron, and on the 30th assigned to 
duty as Surgeon-in-Chief of the cavalry division. 

December 8th. A detachment of 260 men of the regiment, 
with detachments of other regiments, with a section of thi" 
Twenty-fifth Ohio Battery, all under command of Captain 
Jenks, Company D, marched on an expedition to Princeton 
and vicinity. On the march, a few miles south from Princeton, 
they encountered a rebel encampment of 800 men under the 
command of General Parsons. The reofiment, havins^ the ad- 
vance, dismounted and drove them from their position ; then 
mounting their horses pursued the retreating enemy to with- 
in fifteen miles of Camden, Ouachita county. In this skir- 
mish 39 prisoners were taken, and a quantity of arms, canij^ 
equipage, etc., were captured. Our loss was two wounded — C. 
Smelser. Company F. and A. McCaskey, Company K. severely 
wounded in arm near shoulder joint. The arm was amputated, 
and he was left at Princeton. (He received most kindly care 
and attention from the citizens, and was found near that place 
by some meml)ers of his company when returning from the 
Camden expedition in A])ril. 1864.) On the 13th the com- 
mand returned to camp, having marched two hundred miles. 

The above cited expeditions are but fair examples of the 
amount of marching and duty performed during the months of 
Octoliei', Novemlier and Deceml)er — marching during these 
months an aggregate of more than eight thousand (8,000) miles. 
The men were on constant duty, many of them performing their 
duties without overcoats and other necessary clothing. In the 
latter [)art of Deceml)er many of the horses died of overwork 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 143 

and starvation. A sufficient amount of forage was not fur- 
nished. 

During the }^ear 124 recruits were sent from the State to the 
regiment. 

The most notable event of the year was the issuing of the 
Emancipation Proclamation, on January 1st, by President Lin- 
coln. By one stroke of that master hand, three millions of 
human beings *•' rose as men who laid them down as slaves." 
By that act he bade them go forth and ''heal with freedom 
what your slavery cursed. ' ' As long as history tinds a place 
in a nation's archives, so long will that act of Abraham Lincoln 
and the subsequent events be found written upon its brightest 
pages. 

Thus closed the year 1863. At this time it will be proper to 
resume the personal history of the regiment from the time of 
leaving Clinton. Missouri, in September, 1862, to this time. 

The resignations of field and stafi' officers were as follows : 
Colonel James O. Gower, Lieutenant Colonel P. Gad Bryan, 
Major E. W. Chamberlain, Assistant Surgeon D. B. Allen, 
promoted to Surgeon Thirtieth Regiment Iowa Infantry, Assist- 
ant Surgeon J. A. Ladd, Chaplain James W. Latham, Adju- 
tant D. A. Kerr, because of disability from wound received at 
Big Creek Cliifs, near Pleasant Hill, Missouri. 

Those of the line were as follows : Captains Philip E. Sha- 
\-er. Company E, J. D. Thompson, Company G, Riley West- 
coatt. Company H, and H. H. Heath, Compan}' L ; First 
Lieutenants John A. Bishop, Company A, and flames Crissy, 
Company M ; Second Lieutenant A. L. Freeman, Company K. 

The promotions were as follows : Major Daniel Anderson 
to Lieutenant C'olonel and Colonel ; Major J. W. Caldwell to 
Lieutenant Colonel ; Captains A. G. McQueen. Company A, 
Levi Chase, Company C, and William Thompson, Company E, 
to Majors ; Additional Assistant Surgeon Charles H. Lothrop 
lo Assistant Surcfeon : Di-. John A. Ladd to Assistant Surireon 



144 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

from Hospital Steward, Twenty-sixth Iowa Infantry, (resigned 
a few months afterward); Quartermaster Sergeant John A. 
Donnell to Adjutant ; Quartermaster Sergeant Samuel C. Diek- 
erson to Quartermaster, (killed by guerillas in Arkansas, Octo- 
ber 28th, 1862); Sergeant Claus H. Albers, Company A, to 
Quartermastei'. 

Among the line officers as follows : Company A — First 
Lieutenant R. M. Reynolds to Captain ; Second Lieutenant 
John R, Marshall and Sergeant John L. Russell to First and 
Second Lieutenants. 

Company B — First Lieutenant S. S. Burdett to Captain ; 
Sergeants J. T. Foster and H. P. Shiffer to First and Second 
Lieutenants. 

Company C — Second Lieutenant Thomas Jones to First 
Lieutenant and Captain ; Sergeant Mathew Ronaldson to Sec- 
ond and First Lieutenant, and Sergeant William A. Clark to 
Second Lieutenant. 

Company F — First Lieutenant Charles Dustin to Captain ; 
Second Lieutenant Jacob Hursh to First, and Sergeant Charles 
W. W. Dow to First and Second Lieutenants. 

Company G — First Lieutenant John McDermott to Captain ; 
Second Lieutenant Elkanah S. Foster and Sergeant Solomon 
Smith to First and Second Lieutenants. 

Company H — First Lieutenant William S. Wliisenand to 
Captain ; Second Lieutenant Albert U. McConnick and Ser- 
geant Samuel T. Craig to First and Second Lieutenants. 

Company- K — Sergeant Hiram H. Sowles to Second Lieu- 
tenant. 

Company L — First Lieutenant 1). C. Mclntyre to Captain: 
Second Lieutenant James M. Simeral and Sergeant Warren Y. 
Reeves to First and Second Lieutenants. 

Company M — Second Lieutenant Edwin A. Dindiam and 
Sergeant Solomon Townsend to First and Second Lieutenants. 

Battalion Adjutant Joseph S. Edsall was mustered out as 
extra Lieutenant. Rev. John M. Coggswell was commissioned 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 145 

a.s Chaplain. He clied at Little Rock, Arkansas, Octol)er 25th, 
1863. Captain William E. Leffingwell. Company B, was dis- 
missed the service through the influence of some of the Mis- 
souri army officers. Immediately after the war, by act of Con- 
gress, the disability was removed, and the proceedings in the 
case, shown to be malicious, were expunged from the records. 
Second Lieutenant William H. DeFreest was dismissed the 
service. 

First Lieutenant Benjamin Raney, Company C, died at 
Springfield, Missouri, December 11th, 1862, and Thomas A. 
Bereman was commissioned Captain Company E from private 
life. 

Note.— Second Lieutenant W. H. DeFreest, Company B, was dismissed the service 
because of tlie excessive use of intoxicating liquors. Having permanently reformed, he 
is now a most worthy citizen. Efforts are being made for the removal of liis disability. 



19 



1864 

The morning of January l.st, 1864, dawned upon the afflicted 
Nation with brighter hopes and pro.spects for the Union cause. 
Many important battles had l)een fought and won, and but few 
lost, and it was evident the end of this momentous struggle was 
not in the far distant future. 

In the latter part of December, ls<j3, under an act of Con- 
gress providing that all officers and enlisted men who were then 
in the three years' service, and who had at the date of re-enlist- 
ment less than one year to serve, might re-enlist at once for 
three years or during the war from date of re-enlistment, and a 
bounty of |402 to be paid to all enlisted men. Knowing full 
well that the war was not at an end, that the Nation was still 
imperilled, and that the thrones and serfdoms of the old world 
were anxiously aw^aiting this particular event in the affairs of 
our country, hoping that the old soldiers would refuse to re- 
enlist and t)e disban<led, that this action on the part of the old 
soldiers would so weaken the cause of freedom, justice and hu- 
manity that the iron hand of oppression could be stretched 
forth and the convulsed Repul)lic throttled in its struggle for 
National life and lil)erty. But no such dire calamity was to 
take place. The tires of patriotism kindled in '61 burne<l 
afresh, and at the close of January. 1S64, among thousands of 
other patriots more than iive hundred of the brave old regiment 
had responded to their country's call for continued assistance, 
making it a veteran organization. 

The following resolution was passed by Congress in recogni- 



IIIHTi»U) •»»• KIIOT UtW.K TAX AI.KV. 147 

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148 HISTOKY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

About this time Major General Steele, commanding the De- 
partment of the Arkansas, was preparing for what is known as 
the ' ' Camden Expedition. ' "' It was a demonstration in f avoi- 
of, if not for actually uniting with General Banks'' forces, on 
Red river. Waiving its right to a veteran furlough at this time, 
the regiment joined the expedition and took a prominent part 
in all the operations of that campaign. About 350 of the men, 
who had unfortunately lost their horses during the preceding 
winter on account of the great scarcity of forage and severity of 
the weather, and unable to procure others, were organized as a 
' ' Dismounted Battalion ' ■" of the regiment and marched as 
infantry. Brigadier General E. A. Carr was in command of 
the cavalry division. Lieutenant Colonel J. W. Caldwell, First 
Iowa Cavalry, was in command of the Third Brigade, of which 
the regiment formed a part. Captain James P. Crosby, Com- 
pany M, was in command of the mounted portion, and Captain 
Thomas Jones, Company C, in command of the ''dismounted" 
portion of the regiment. The ''dismounted'*' portion was di- 
vided into four companies, each in command of a First Lieu- 
tenant. Lieutenants A. U. McCormick, Company H, Amos 
Dilley, Company I, Charles F. Keeler, Company K, and Ed- 
win A. Dunham, Company M, were assigned to the command. 
Soon afterward Captain Jones was taken sick and Lieutenant 
Dilley assumed command. 

Surgeon M. B. Cochran had been appointed Medical Direc- 
tor of the army, which was noAv designated as the Seventh 
Army Corps ; and Dr. J. J. Saunders, who had lieen recently 
promoted from Hospital Steward to Assistant Surgeon of the 
regiment, was placed in charge of the " Dismounted Battalion.'" 

Brigadier General Thayer, with a force of about live thous- 
and (5.(MM») men at Fort Smith, had been ordered to join Gen- 
eral Steele on this expedition, but on account of the severe rain 
storms and bad roads he did not arrive at the appointed time ; 
and on Wednesday morning, March 23d, Colonel Daniel An- 
derson having been phu-ed in connnand of the post at Little 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 149 

Rock, by order of General Steele, this army corps, consisting 
of about seven thousand (7,000) men — infantry, artillery and 
cavalry — marched without General Thayer's division. 

It left Little Rock by the way of the military road leading 
south from Little Rock to Washington, the county seat of 
Hampstead county, and beyond. The first skirmish had with 
the enemy was at Benton, the county seat of Saline county, 
about twenty-five miles distant southwest from Little Rock. 
(3ur advance guard attacked a company of the enemy on out- 
post duty at that place. A rapid, disorganized retreat to the 
timber was the result. It was near this town that Assistant 
Surgeon Lothrop, who was out with his Hospital Steward, 
James Hervey, in quest of supplies for the hospital, took the 
first prisoner of the campaign. He was one of the enemy driven 
out of Benton by our advance guard, and with him a rebel mail 
])ouch containing a large number of letters for the "Southern 
Confederacy. ' ' After leaving Benton the regiment was much 
of the time in the extreme advance, skirmishing with the ene- 
my every day. Noting a few of the engagements as examples 
will sufiice. March 9th, near Arkadelphia. April 2d, at 
Spoon ville. April 3d, near the town of Antoine; 3d and 4th. 
Elkins' Ford ; 10th and 12th, at Prairie D'Anne ; 14th, White 
Oak Creek ; 15th, Camden Cross Roads and the capture of Cam- 
den ; 25th. Moro Creek ; 30th, Jenkins Ferry, on the Saline 
river. In the skirmish near Arkadelphia, March 29tii, result- 
ing in driving the enemy from the town, our loss was two men 
wounded — J. W. Hardin and George W. VanOrsdel, Corporals 
of Company E. Hardin was taken prisoner. April 2d, at 
Spoonville. (called also Greenville, Antoine Creek and Wolf 
Creek.) it met General (^'abell's force of 1,600 men, defeating 
them and pursuing them in a running fight for a distance of 
Kve miles to a place on Wolf creek. In this skirmish our loss 
was three men wovmded and one missing — Theodore Y. Creamei- 
and John M. Macklin, C'onn)any I, and John Gaydas, Company 
K. wounded, and Duncan McDonald. Company B. missing. 



150 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

Mackin was mortally wounded and died the same day. Cream- 
er was severely wounded and died at Camden a short time after- 
ward. The engagement at the ' ' Good Crossing ' ' of the Little 
Missouri river, (town of Antoine, ) was a most successful strate- 
gic mo^ ement on the part of General Steele. It was accom- 
plished as follows : Until the command camped at Spoonvillc 
it had marched upon the road leading to Washington, Hemp- 
stead county, called the military road. About seventeen miles 
northeast of Washington the Little Missouri river crosses this 
'' military"" road. At this point there is an excellent fording 
phice. General Marmaduke, supposing that General Steele 
would continue the march upon this road, concentrated a large 
force at this place to oppose the crossing of the ford. By this 
concentration of his forces, Marmaduke had been obliged to 
leave but a small picket force to guard other fords and '"cross- 
ings '' a few miles distant down the river. 

There is a good ^'neighborhood'" road leading from Spoonville 
by the way of Okalona to Elkins' Ford on the Little Missouri 
river, a few miles below the * ' Good Crossing ' ' on the military 
road. There is also another good road leading from the mili- 
tary road, at a point near Wolf creek, about live miles south 
from Spoonville, and about the same distance north from the 
town of Antoine, leading to the little town of Terre Noir, on the 
Spoonville and Okalona road. 

It would have lieen very gratifying to General Marmaduke 
if General Steele had continued his march upon the military 
road. But General Steele had a plan of his own, which was 
destined to bring disappointment and confusion to Marmaduke. 
Taking advantage of the concentration of Marmaduke's forces 
at the '•"Good C-rossing" and the insigniticant protection of the 
other fords, he decided to leave the military road at Spoonville 
and take the neighborhood road to Okalona and Elkins' Ford, 
a few miles below the efood crossing'. In accordance with this 
})lan. on the morning of the 3d a detachment of the First Iowa 
(Javalry was ordered out on the military road to engao-e the 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 151 

attention of the enemy, while the army marched on the road 
leading to Elkins' Ford. So successfully was this movement 
made that the advance of our army was in possession of the 
ford before Marmaduke was aware that there was any attempt 
being made to gain possession of it. The detachment of the 
regiment met the pickets of the enemy near Wolf Creek. A 
skirmish ensued, and the enemy slowly retreated until a place 
south of the road leading to Terre Noir, at or near the town of 
Antoine at the ' ' good crossing, "* ^ was reached. Here a deter- 
mined skirmish was kept up for some time in the seeming en- 
deavor to gain possession of the ford — after which, having 
sufficiently armiHed General Marmaduke and his force, with the 
loss of but one man slightly wounded (name unknown), the 
detachment was returned. by the way of the Terre Noir road to 
the army. 

General Marmaduke, in his report of his operations against 
Steele in this expedition, thus relates his "sad taking in'"' l)y 
General Steele upon this occasion : '•• At two oV'lock p. m. the 
march of the enemy was partially developed — he had taken the 
road to Okalona. Simultaneously almost Avith this information 
the small picket which had been stationed at Elkins' Ford gal- 
loped up to inform me that the enemy had occupied that ford 
with a small force.'' 

On the afternoon of the 3d the regiment with other regi- 
ments crossed the rivei- at Elkins"' Ford, and skirmished with 
the enemy. On the morning of the 4th a severe engagement 
took place, with Generals Cabeirs and Greene's brigades, com- 
manded by General Marmaduke in person. Our force of about 
•''00 men Avas in command of Lieutenant Colonel F. M. Drake, 
Thirty-sixth Iowa Infantry. The engagement commenced in 
the early morning and continued until noon, resulting in defeat 
.-ind great loss to the enemy. Our total loss was thirty-one 
wounded, eleven of whom were from the First Iowa Cavalry, 
as follows : Private George Sackett, Company C ; Sergeant 
Araham J. Reeves and private Edwin Messinger, Company I) ; 



152 HISTORY OF FIR8T IOWA CAVALRY. 

privates John Smith and Andrew Patterson, Company E : 
Lieutenant Charles W. W. Dow and Corporal Stephen Baker, 
Company F ; Corporals Victor Gilbert and Frank Talty, farrier 
Purdy M. Byerly, and private John Vest, Company G. Pri- 
vate Benjamin H. Hall was taken prisoner. Sergeant Reeves 
was mortally wounded and died the same day. Private Edwin 
Messinger was severely wounded and died at Camden April 
24th. Private John Smith was mortally wounded and died on 
the 6th. Corporal Victor Gilbert was mortally wounded and 
died the next day. Private John Vest was severel}^ wounded 
and died on the 1 5th. The enemy acknowledged a loss of more 
than fifty wounded, and eighteen newly made graves within 
sight of our camp indicated that at least that number were 
killed. 

Lieutenant Colonel Drake, in his report of the engagement, 
makes favorable mention of Lieutenants Ronaldson, Company 
C, Walker, Company D, Dow, Company F, and McCormick, 
Company H, and of his orderlies, privates George Barr and 
Harvey Clingfield, Company C, all of the First Iowa Cavalry. 
At this place the dismounted portion of the regiment were foi- 
the first time ordered to the front, which position they retained 
until the capture of the city of Camden. 

Following is a copy of the official report of Lieutenant Col- 
onel Drake : 

Camp 36th Iowa Volunteer Infantry. 
Near Elkins' Ford, Arkansas, April 6th., 1864. 
Captain W. E. Whithredge, 

A. A. A. Oen. 2d Brigade, 3d Div., 7th A. C: 

Sir : — I have the honor to submit the following- report of the part of 
the detachment under my command in the battle of Elkins' Ford, on 
the Little Missouri river. Arkansas, on the 3d and 4th inst. By order 
of Colonel William F. McLean, commanding Second Brigade, about five 
o'clock p. M.," on the 3d inst.. in command of three companies of the 
Forty-third Indiana Infantry, I proceeded along the road running pei-- 
pendicular from the ford through the woods to the front, and took a posi- 
tion about a hundred paces in rear of the picket post on the road, 
behind a deserted orchard. The picket post, composed of about one 




THOS. S. HELLER, 

Co. "G," 

Menomonie, Wis. 



i 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 158 

hundred men of the First Iowa Cavah*y, commanded by Captain Mc- 
Intyre. I found on my arrival was skirmishing with the advance pickets 
of the enemy. 

I immediately went forward among the line of skirmishers until I 
could observe the enemy's movements, and from close obsei'vation soon 
became satisfied that they were in considerable force and were covering 
preparations to attack us next morning. I at once appi'ised Colonel Mc- 
Lean concerning my apprehensions, who immediately sent to my sup- 
port Lieut. Peetz, with a section of light artillery, and ordered me to 
assume command of all the forces to the front, deploy my men on the 
right and left of the road, and, if attacked, to hold my position as long 
as I thought prudent, and fall back on the reserves. The cavalry post. 
now composed of Companies C and D. First Iowa Cavalry, commanded 
by Lieutenants Ronaldson and Walker, (who had at this time relived 
Captain Mclntyre, ) covered about two hundred paces of our front with 
cavalry videttes. and I deployed Companies D, G and A, Thirty-sixth 
Iowa, on the right of the road, at intervals of one hundred paces be- 
tween companies, making D my center, placed at the road. I deployed 
Companies E, H and C, Forty-third Indiana, at same company intervals 
on the left of the road, the battery taking position about two hundred 
paces in rear of my center, and thrown well forward, and to my flanks 
a strong infantry picket. I ordered each company to keep up a few 
watchers, the balance to sleep on their ai'ms until fovir o'clock the next 
morning, when all should get up and breakfast before daylight. I 
ordered the cavalry, as soon as attacked, to dismount and send all their 
horses to the rear. Soon after daylight on the morning of the 4th inst. . 
the enemy engaged the cavah-y pickets, and almost simultaneously made a 
determined effort to turn my left flank. I met them on the left with 
Companies H and C dejiloyed as skirmishers, and ordered Company D. 
Captain Hale, to move forward and deploy to support the cavalry. I 
immediately discovered the enemy entering the orchard in heavy force 
in line of battle, and moved forward Companies G and E on a line with 
I). The engagement was now becoming very warm, and my men were 
falling woimded right and left, but by a very determined eft'ort we 
finally succeeded in driving back the rebel column into the woods in 
front of the orchard. I immediately dispatched ah orderly to C'olonel 
McLean, informing him that we were engaged with about two thousand 
of the enemy, and calling for reinforcements. A strong eft'ort was now 
made bj^ the enemy to turn mj- right flank, when I moved forward 
('ompany A, Captain Porter, deployed to protect it. My whole force 

20 



1 54 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

was now deployed, covering the enemy's front, and the engagement was 
general along my entire line. I now called upon Lieutenant Peetz to 
open upon them with his battei-y. which he had barely commenced do- 
ing when the enemy opened upon us with four field pieces, and for near 
one hour from this time the engagement on both sides was severe. 

With a force of about three hundred men. we were contending against 
Generals Cabeirs and Greene's brigades, commanded by General Mar- 
maduke in person. My officers and men. without exception, fought 
with desperation, and we succeeded in checking the enemy and holding 
a position about fifty paces in rear of our old line. A lull then ensued 
of some minutes, taking advantage of which I ordered my line to ad- 
vance to our old position and take the men's knapsacks, which had been 
left on the ground where we encamped, how in possession of the enemy. 
The men went forward, retook their knapsacks, and Company D. Cap- 
tain Hale, captured, while doing so. Lieutenant Fackler. an aide-de- 
camp of General Marmaduke. We were now again in possession of the 
ground held by us at the commencement of the engagement, and were 
fully assured from appearances that so far the enemy had received more 
than he bargained for. Fearing the enemy were posting artillery on 
flanks to enfilade us. or in position to give us a raking cross-fire. I or- 
dered Captain Porter on my right and Lieutenant Holman on my left to 
advance a few skirmishers to their front and flank to feel for the enemy. 
They had not advanced far until they were both engaged. The enemy 
had posted a piece of artillery in front of each of my flanks, and with 
a cross-fire and a direct fire from his four pieces of artillery commenced 
raking the woods with solid shot, grape and shell, while his combined 
forces in one continuous line rushed upon us. firing volleys of musketry 
and yelling like demons. For some time we held a perfect line, falling 
back slowly, and contesting every inch of ground, expecting support, 
until my line on the left of the road, being forced into an open field, 
gave way entirely, and fell back on their reserves. I now determined to 
hold my ])osition on the right of the i-oad at all hazards until reinforced. 
I succeeded in doing so. and after several hours" hard fighting finally 
repulsed the enemy, but not without considerable loss. About the time 
my left gave way. Colonel Kittredge took a position with the balance of 
the- Thirty-sixth Iowa in i-ear of the field and repulsed the enemy's 
charge on my left. During the engagement, which lasted imtil near 
noon with my detachment, the cavalry was commanded by Lieutenants 
Walker. Ronaldson. McCormick and Dow. First Iowa Cavalry: the ar- 
tillery by Lieutenant Peetz. Second Missouri Light Artillery; Companies 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 155 

A. G and D, Thirty-sixth Iowa, by Captains Porter. Fee and Hale, and 
Lieutenants Baird. Pearson and Burnbavim ; Companies E. H and C. 
F'orty-third Indiana, by Lieutenants Thompson. Cooper and Holman : 
and I cannot but express the highest commendations for the coolness 
and bi-avery they exhibited during this terrible and unequal contest, 
and the men proved themselves all heroes. Privates George Barr and 
Henry J. Clingfield, Company C, First Iowa Cavalry, acted as my order- 
lies during the engagemement. and were of great service : they are good 
and brave soldiers. 

The casualties of my detachment are one officer. Lieutenant Dow. 
slightly wounded in head, and thirty men wounded — eleven of them 
supposed mortally, several of whom have since died. The proportion 
is twelve from the Thirty-sixth Iowa, eleven from the First Iowa Cav- 
alry, four from the Forty-third Indiana, and three from the Second 
Missouri Light Artillery — a list of which will be reported by the regi- 
mental commanders. 

I am. very respectfully. 

Your obedient servant. 

F. M. DRAKE. 
Lt. Col. 36th Iowa Infantry, 
Vomdg. Detachment Second Brigade. 

From this time until the 10th the march was slow, with con- 
stant skirmishing with the enemy, the regiment having the 
advance. April 5th. Hth and Tth. tlic army having crossed the 
river, remained near the ford. On the 6th a brisk skirmish 
took place, about five miles distant from the ford, in which the 
rebels suffered a loss of twenty-three wounded, six mortally, 
and six killed. At this time a Corjjs Field HovSpital was organ- 
ized, and Assistant Surgeon Lotlii-op was ordered to report for 
duty with it. On the 7th the enemy was reinforced by General 
Price with Dockery's and Crawford's brigades and Wood's bat- 
talion from the force on Red river. General Banks having met 
with a most disa.strous defeat. 

On the 9th Brigadier General Thayer with his force from 
Fort Smith arrived. In ti skirmish near Prairie D'Anne Ser- 
geant (Jeorg<' M. Mack and private Augustus Dunn, Omipanv 
11. were wounded. On the K'th our ca\'idr\' reached Prairie D" 



156 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

Anne. Prairie D'Anne is a large and beautiful prairie fourteen 
miles in length and eight miles in breadth, situated in the east- 
ern part of Hempstead county, about sixteen miles distant in a 
southerly direction from Elkins' Ford, on the road leading from 
the ford to the Camden and Washington road. The road lead- 
ing from Washington to Camden crosses this prairie near its 
southern border. On the middle and southern portion there is 
a series of high ridges covered with timber. Upon these ridges 
the enemy had constructed a low breastwork of logs for defense. 
The road leading from the ford to this prairie was exceedingly 
rough and hilly, with heavy tiral)er and dense underbrush on 
either side, causing necessarily a c;autious and slow march. On 
the afternoon of the 10th the resfiment, with other reo-iments, en- 
countered the enemy in a growth of timber on the northern bor- 
der of the prairie and drove him from the woods to his intrench- 
ments upon the ridge. A brisk tight was kept up until about 
ten o'clock p. m. with artillery and small arms. At that tinu* 
General Marmaduke with his force charged our line, but was 
speedily repulsed. During the night engagement the sheets of 
lurid flame from the guns, the liursting shells, and the flashing 
of small arms, produced a most grand ]>yr()technic display. 

On the morning of the 11th General Steele with his army in 
line of battle advanced into the open prairie. In the distance, 
at the south, confronting him, was the rebel force in line of 
l)attle. It was a most magniticent s[)ectacle ; one scarcely or 
never witnessed, and when once seen will never l)e forgotten. 
Skirmishers wer(> in front, batteries in position, cavalry upon 
the flanks, with s<niic(l ranks of bristling steel marching in 
douliic colunnis. with bands of martial music playing, and the 
glorious old star spangled banner unfurled and floating in the 
breeze, in anticipation of a battle and resultant victory. 

And the enemy, with an e<iual or superior force, displayed 
c(|ual care and precision in the formation of his lines. No bat- 
tle however occurred, l)ut brisk skirmishing was continued 
along the lines, resulting in driving his skirmishers l)ack about 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 157 

two miles. At night our forces returned to their former posi- 
tion. During the day the regiment lost three men wounded — 
Lieutenant Colonel Caldwell slightly, Corporal Clayborne F. 
Driscoll, Company A, mortally — he died the same day, and 
private Amos Andrews, Company L, severely. He was taken 
prisoner and died at Camden, May 2d. On the morning of the 
12th the regiment was again in the advance in the attack upon 
the rebel works, and was the first to enter them, to find them 
deserted and the enemy once more upon the retreat. Crossing 
the Terre Rouse creek, the regiment advanced to the Washing- 
ington and Camden road, and held that place until the array 
reached that road, and was marching upon Camden. 

On the 13th we were marching through the swamps of Ca- 
nary creek. 

On the 14:th, in a skirmish at White Oak creek, a small 
Itranch of Cypress Bayou, the regiment lost one man wounded, 
private John Hillery, Company C. He died April 25th at 
Camden. 

At seven o'clock on the morning of the 15th, the dismounted 
portion of the regiment having jjerformed picket duty during 
the preceding night, engaged the enemy within four hundred 
yards of their picket post, at a place called '•'Camden Cross 
Roads,"" about fifteen miles distant west from Camden on the 
Camden and Washington road, near the little hamlet of Liberty. 
The enemy was driven hack for a distance of six miles, at 
\vhich time portion^ of the Twenty-ninth and Thirty-third Regi- 
ments Iowa Infantry, with the Second Missouri Light Artillery, 
and the mounted portion of the regiment, were ordered up and 
engaged in the fight. Soon afterward the skirmish developed 
into a warm engagement, and the enemy was steadily driven 
back to and through the city of Camden, resulting in the caj)- 
ture of the city on the evening of the same day. The regiment 
lost one man woimded. })rivate Jerome Carpenter. Company H. 

The following interesting account of the engagement is from 
Mr. E. J. Smith, now residing at Sedalia, Mo. He was at that 



158 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

time a member of Company B, and one of the ^ ' Foot Battalion:' * 
^ ' The dismounted battalion of First Iowa Cavalry was put 
in advance. We deployed as skirmishers right at our picket 
post. (I was one of the dismounted ones.) Within four hun- 
dred yards of our post we drove in their pickets and skirmished 
with them, driving them about six miles. We were then called 
in and an infantry line of skirmishers placed in advance; then 
we were assembled and massed on the right and left of the road, 
in support of one section of a battery of mountain howitzers 
belonging to the Ninth Missouri Infantry, which marched on 
the road and shelled the enemy on several occasions. AVe 
marched but a little way in this manner, when the enemy halted 
us by opening on us with a full battery of field guns art four 
hundred yards, well supported by dismounted cavalry. Gen- 
eral Rice at this time brought up a brigade of infantry and a 
field battery, and after an artillery duel lasting perhaps an hour 
the rel)els were dislodged. While this was going on the 
mounted First Iowa Cavalry came up and formed lines in oui- 
rear, and may be skirmished a little on our flanks — cannot be 
certain. We entered Camden that evening at dark.'' 

Camden, the county seat of Ouachita county, is situated upon 
the west bank of the Ouachita river. It was a large, well built 
town, doing quite an extensive business, and was a large depot 
of supplies for the rel)el army. During a high stage of water 
the river is navigal)le to this place and the Red river steaml)()ats 
are frequently seen here. On the apjiroach of our army the 
supplies at this place were partially destroyed. Innnediately 
after the occupation of the city by our forc^es a General Field 
Hospital was established in the court house, a large and commo- 
dious brick l)uilding, and Assistant Surgeon Lothrop ordered to 
duty in charge of it. The army remained here until the 27th 
on constant picket, outpost and forage duty. On the 17th a 
detachment of the regiment, with a detachment of the Third 
Missouri Cavalry, under Major Leonard of the Third, marched 
about tM'cnty miles down the Ouachita river and ca})tured a 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 159 

steamboat laden with corn and other quartermaster and commis- 
sary supplies. Lieutenant J. T. Foster, of Company B, an 
old Mississippi river steamboat pilot, took the "wheel" and 
})iloted the boat back to Camden. 

On the 18th, Private William D. Johnson, Company G, was 
taken prisoner. In our engagements with the enemy many of 
the men were severely wounded, and a number died in hospital 
after arriving at Camden. The loss of the regiment to this 
time is reported to have been five killed, three taken prisoners 
and twenty-five wounded. There were, however, none killed 
on the batt]efi(^ld; some were mortally wounded and died a short 
time afterward. The list of the wounded as given in the l)e- 
fore mentioned engagements is imperfect, and all sources of 
information have been exhausted in tlie effort to obtain a com- 
plete list. A most entertaining sketch of the adventures of the 
dismounted meml)ers of the regiment by John B. Martin, now 
residing at Dysart, Iowa, a member of Company E, and who 
was " one of them,"''' is here inserted : 

ADVENTURES OF THE DISMOUNTED MEMBERS. 

The winter of 1863-4 was one of unprecedented severity. The Ar- 
kansas river was frozen entirely over at Little Rock, an occurrence 
beyond the memory of the •• oldest inhabitant" in the past. As a con- 
sequence of the severe cold and exposure g'landers raged fearfully 
among the ai-my hoi-ses and mules, and thousands fell victims to this 
incurable disease. The writer, who, with others of the regiment, was 
detailed that winter to take charge of the government canal, lost his 
own horse among others by this terrible disease. The natui-al result 
was that the opening of spring found many of the regiment dismounted, 
besides the many recruits who had come to the regiment during the 
winter, who, owing to the scarcity of horses, were unable to supply 
themselves : so that when marching orders came there were about 360 
of our r-egiment dismounted. Nothing daunted, however, and cheered 
by the pi-omise that all unbranded horses should be turned over to us 
as soon as ca-])tured. (this was a private understanding with our more 
fortunate comrades, ) we gaily "packed our traps" for the trip. And 
i-ight here we showed our ignorance of •■ footing it," for we packed up 
everything, and when in line looked more like a lot of Turkish porters 



160 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

with their lieavy loads, than a troop of men just starting on an extended 
march. However, it did not take us long to get rid of superfluous bag- 
gage, and the roadside a few miles out from Little Rock would have af- 
forded fat i^ickings in the way of blankets, overcoats and other articles. 
And thus lightened, though unused to walking, we held our own credits 
ably with the veteran regiments of infantry ; indeed, being as we were 
in a semi-indifferent condition, something like •• Sherman's bummers," 
we traveled many more miles than any of the infantry, for we scouted 
all the by-roads on the way for hams and chickens, and our efforts, oi- 
at least those of the writer, were abundantly rewarded. When we ar- 
rived at the Little Missouri we were for the first time put in the skir- 
mish line, and from that time till we entered Camden, the General com- 
manding appeared to think he had no skirmishers out unless we were 
in the line — at least, we were always there. The afternoon of the 10th 
of Ajjril we struck the enemy in force at Prairie D'Anne, and were 
placed on the right of the skirmish line ; we quickly cleared the woods 
and compelled the enemy to retire to their works on the opposite side 
of the prairie. Just at night the mounted part of the regiment moved 
up and took position on our right, or at least part of it. We spent the 
night under arms, and until about eleven under lire from a rebel sixty- 
four-pounder, when Rabb's battery dismounted it with a well directed 
•• bi-oadside." Later in the night Marmaduke attemj^ted to charge and 
capture the battery, but was hurled back in confusion. Our regiment 
supported the battery on the right and the P^iftieth Indiana on the left, 
and the way we issued rations of lead was beautiful to see. 

At daylight of the 11th a general advance was ordered. We, still 
holding the right. Salomon's German regiment, the Ninth Wisconsin, 
on our left, deployed as skirmishers. We advanced steadily and rap- 
idly under a sharp fire from the enemy, but nothing could stop us and 
the Johnnies fell sullenly back. And here, just as the sun was rising 
in unclouded splendor. I saw the grandest sight that my eyes ever wit- 
nessed. About a thousand yards to our rear our entire army advanced 
into the open prairie in line of battle. The prairie, level as a floor, 
showed evei-y regiment with their bayonets glistening in the morning 
sun, every battle flag unfurled and proudly waving in the gentle breeze. 
Groups of general and staff officers hurrying here and there, making 
final dispositions for the battle that we fully expected would soon open. 
It was the most imposing spectacle I ever witnessed, and I just felt 
then that if we had the whole Confederacy in our front we could •■ lick 




^ '"^^, 






Lieut. Clinton M. Tubner, Co. C. 
Sergt. Clementine M. Bird, Co. E. 



Asst. Surgeon J. A. Ladb. 
Lieut. Col. J. W. Caldwell. 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 161 

them out of their boots." And I guess the rebels thought so too. for it 
was a race for over two miles, and they outrun us. 

The writer captured a smoking hot lot of "dodgers," just done to a 
turn, which in the hurry of their flight had been left in front of the fire 
where they were left cooking : and as two hardtack had constituted my 
rations for the previous thirty hours, you may imagine how gladly I 
transferred them from the bark of the cucumber tree (a species of pop- 
lar) to my haversack. 

During our advance a laughable incident and showing the spirit of 
Ivieutenant Colonel Caldwell occurred. As we were approaching the 
rebel works, the Colonel and staff rode along the front to encourage the 
men and see that evei-ything was in order for an assault if it became 
necessary. Adjutant Donnell became very anxious for the safety of the 
Colonel ! and after viewing the works with his field-glass said. •• Colon- 
nel. it is reckless to ride so near these works, for by the aid of my 
field-glass I can see that they are just swarming with rebels."' The 
Colonel replied, • • Adjutant, as my eyes ai-e not as good as yours, and I 
want to see those men, we will ride a little closer," 

From Camden Cross Roads till we entered Camden the dismounted 
men were in the advance, skirmishing continually with the rebel reai' 
guard ; there we had a short rest. On the 16th some of us went fishing 
in the Ouachita river and caught a fine lot of catfish and white perch, 
which afforded an agreeable change to our bill of fare. On the 16th. 
just after dinner, orders came for foi-ty of us to go and bring up the 
steamer ■■ Homer of Virginia, " which had been captured loaded with 
corn by the mounted portion of the regiment. Of course we could ride 
back on the steamer and all were anxious to go. The writer had the 
luck (?) to be one of the chosen, and we lit out with only carbines and 
revolvers, for of course we would find i-ations sufficient on the boat to 
do us back. Well, to cut it short, we marched twenty-two miles instead 
of fifteen, which we wei'e informed was the distance, and at night found 
ourselves in sight of numerous camp fires — too numerous we thought to 
belong to our regiment : and a little careful scouting developed the fact 
that we were in sight of Joe Shelby^s and Marmaduke's commands. 
Froin a (colored man we learned that our regiment had taken the boat 
and put oft' up the river about the time we started, and as they had 
kept along the bank while we came the direct road we had missed them. 
A commotion in the rebel camps gave us to understand that our pres- 
ence in their vicinity had been discovered ; so we a1)out-faced and started 
back, the tiredest and maddest lot of men you ever saw. .\l)()iit half 

21 



1 62 HISTORY OF FIRiST IOWA CAVALRY. 

way back men began to play out and hide in the woods, declaring they 
could go no farther without rest. The greater part, however, held out. 
and got back to camp between four and five in the morning, completely 
used up. My feet and anfeles wex'e so swollen that I could not get my 
boots on for two days after. Those who laid out all night straggled in 
during the next day. And nothing so excited our gall as for 8ome one 
to ask. • ' How do you like steamboating ? " It was a sore subject with 
us for many a day. 

A few days later I got a horse, and this ended my connection with 
the dismounted men. But this I must say in conclusion — that no 350 
men on that expedition saw more or hai-der fighting than did the dis- 
mounted portion of the First Iowa Cavalry. And their record will 
make no blemish on the proud escutcheon of Iowa's First. 

Respectfully. J. R. MARTIN. Co. E. 

When the iirmy arrived at Camden its quartermaster and 
commissary supplies were nearly exhausted, and being many 
miles from his base of supplies at Little Rock, with an active, 
viprilant enemy ever watchful of his movements. General Steele 
was obliged to draw upon the surrounding country for the 
meager sup])ly it afforded. (April 19th the army had been 
Avithout i-ations for three days, subsisting on com meal.) For 
this pur})osc supply trains were sent out in various directions, 
and mills set in motion for the purpose of grinding corn and 
other material for food. A few of our trains were captured, 
and bi'isk skirmishes occurred m^arly every day between the 
enemy and our train escorts. Reinforcements from (xeneral 
Kirby Smith's army on Red river were already here, and Gen- 
eral Steele's position became daily more untenable. 

At this time the veteran portion of the regiment, numlicring 
520 men, \vcr<' relieved frcmi duty and ordered home on a vet- 
ei'an fui'lough. Assistant Surgeon Lothrop was relieved from 
duty in the General Field Hosjiital in order to accompany 
them. 

The following is a copy of the very com})linic)itarv order re- 
lieving the veterans at this time : 

V. The Brigadier General commanding the division has been high- 
ly gratified with the cheerfulness and alacrity shown by the regiment 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 163 

under the particular hardships of this campaign, as well as by its hand- 
somely sustaining" the reputation for bravery which belong-s to Iowa 
ti'oops. 

VI. To Lieutenant Colonel Caldwell the division commander is 
under obligations for the skill and bravery he has shown as commander 
of the Third Brigade, and especially for his untiring" energy and liearty. 
cordial and effective co-operation in all the plans of the campaign. 

By order of Brigadier General E. A. Carr. 

C. H. DYER, Assititunl Adjutant (ieneral. 

The uon-veteraus and recruits were left under command of 
Captain Jame.s P. Croslty, C()mj)any M. The veterans, having 
sold their horses to tlie Government, left for home on foot, un- 
der the command of Lieutenant Colonel Caldwell, by the way 
of the Camden, Mount Elba and Pine Blutf road, on the 24th, 
two companies of the Third Missouri Cavalry, in coumiand of 
Captain Miller, acting- as escort. We camped at night in a pine 
forest, having marched nineteen miles. On the morning of the 
25th the two companies of the Third Missouri Cavalry returned 
to Camden, and the veterans continued their march, hoi)iug to 
overtake a supply train which had been ordered to Pine Bluli 
on the 23d, with a c(msiderable force as escort, inider conunand 
of Lieutenant Colonel Drake, Thirty-sixth Iowa Infantry. 'V\\v 
march was being ra})idly made for men unaccustonu'd to 
marching as infantry, when ahout noon the booming of artil- 
lery was heard in our front. Believing that the ti'ain had been 
attacked, the march was (juickened for the purpose of joining 
in the tight. A halt for a few moments was ordered at a biidge 
over Moro creek or river — a small, deep, miry strt^am. thirty- 
eight miles distant northeast from C/amden, near the little town 
of Moro, in Calhoun county, and five or six miles distant from 
the place of the engagement with Lieutenant Colonel Drake's 
command. The halt had scarcely l>een made, when a most de- 
moralized crowd of cotton speculators, sutlers, refugees, team- 
sters, etc.. niounte(| on mules and horses, dashed pu.'-t at the 
••best gait" the animals possessed for Camden, followed im- 
mediately by a volle\ fi'om the enenu". A line of liattle was 



164 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

immediately formed, the fire returned, and a most determined 
fight ensued. A rebel prison stared us in our faces, but we 
were going home or going to die ''right there and then."" No 
surrender this time. Captain McDermott, Company G, and 
Lieutenants Foster. Company B, and Edwin A. Dunham, Com- 
pany M, 'were in command of the skirmish line which had been 
formed ; and our two wagons on that narrow, muddy road 
were reversed by the men in an incredibly short time and sent 
to the rear. A heavy fire was concentrated upon the bridge, 
and the several attempts to charge across it were as often re- 
pulsed by the veterans. One rebel officer, having more valor 
than discretion, was "taken in" for his temerity. Lieutenant 
Silas R. Nugen, Company E, who had been detached from the 
regiment during the campaign, acting as Division Quartermas- 
ter, was captured. When asked l)v his captors what force was 
in front of them, he replied that "it was the advance of Gen- 
eral Steele's army."" This reply no doul)t had a very discour- 
aging effect upon them, as they had been receiving for the last 
thirty days convincing proofs of the prowess of General Steele's 
army. Their extreme caution was fortunate for us, and saved 
us from severe disaster. Forming successive lines the veterans 
fell back, and marched in this manner until after midnight. 
In the meantime Lieutenant ('olonel C^aldwell had sent a dis- 
patch to General Steele asking for reinforcements. Pi'ivate 
William Potts, (V)mpany M, having a fieet blooded horse, was 
selected ;is dispatch-hearer, and the distance of thirty-eight 
miles was made by him in a very short time. This was a most 
fatiguing march, especially for cavalrymen. The coimter- 
march was a gn^ater distance than that marched during the day. 
making a distance of more than tifty miles. The men wert' 
terribly exhausted, and the wagons were used to transport them. 
An ox team belonging to a rebel fanner was impressed into the 
service for that })urpose also. As many of the men as could 
ride on tlic wagons were })ermitted to do so for a time, and 
then as olhei-s became exhausted they occupied their ])laces. By 



HISTORY OF FIRST lOAVA CAVALRY. 165 

thus changing from time to time no men were left behind. 
Many dropped by the wayside, saying they could go no farther, 
but being encouraged, and after partaking of a liberal dose of 
spiritus friimenti^ they would resume the march with renewed 
■spirits. Some time after midnight we halted and l)ivouacked 
for the night. In the early dawn of the next morning (26th), 
our pickets discovered a force from the direction of Camden 
advancing upon us. We could not believe that a force from 
(yamden could reach us at this time, and every man was desper- 
ate and ready for battle. It Avas soon ascertained that the force 
approaching was a detachment of 1,500 men with two howitzers 
from our old Third Brigade. Upon learning that they were 
our friends there was an intense revulsion of feeling. Brave 
men who on many a bloody battle field, amid storms of shot 
and shell, had faced death without a tremor, wept like children. 
Although, twenty-five years have come and gone since that 
event took place, the memory of those scenes is as vivid as if 
the occurrences were but of yesterday. On the arrival of the 
command in our camp they greeted us with heai-ty congratula- 
tions. It had been reported in Camden that the veterans had 
been attacked and all were killed or taken prisoners. The dis- 
])atch asking for reinforcements, ' and announcing that we were 
falling back in good order, refuted the report, and the above 
mentioned detachment was at once ordered out and a most rap- 
id marcli made to reinforce us. 

At about eight o'clock the command marched toward Cam- 
den. The weary and footsore veterans were placed upon the 
horses, and their comrades marched beside them, listening to 
the story of the attack, the stubborn resistance made, the re- 
treat without confusion, and the most exhausting march ever 
made by them, on that eventful day and night. Karly (two 
v. M. ) in the afternoon the command camped near (one mile) 
the bank of the Ouachita river, opposite Camden. 

The loss of the enemy is reported to have been one Colonel 
and one privsilc killed, and one C;i])tMin taken prisoner. Our 



166 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

loss was two wounded and two taken prisoners — Corporal John 
Wright 2d, Company A, and private Patrick H. Burke, Com- 
pany M, wounded ; Lieutenant Silas R. Nugen, Company E, 
and private William H. Hughson, Company B, taken pris- 
oners. 

At this time General Steele was making j)reparations to 
evacuate Cailiden. About one o'clock on the morning of the 
2Tth the arni}^ had crossed the Ouachita river, and was march- 
ing on the Princeton road on a retreat to Little Rock. On the 
29th, having passed through Princeton, it Avas at Jenkins' Fer- 
ry, on the Saline river, in the southeastern portion of the Hot 
Springs country, with the enemy in close pursuit. During the 
night the rain fell in torrents, and the "-bottom" lands or 
swamps bordering on the river, densely wooded, were one con- 
tinuous sea of mud and mire. All night long, with the rain 
pouring down in torrents, the army was assisting in getting the 
trains and batteries over the almost l)ott.omless road, and across 
a pontoon bridge which had been laid across the river. But 
the morning came with a portion of the train uncrossed. At 
this time (April 30th) all the wagons were ordered to be des- 
troyed, except ' ' those for General Headquarters — live wag- 
ons for each division, and such as may be required to carry 
ordnance stores remaining after issue. All am})ulances will be 
retained. All surplus wagons will be destroyed. ''' " " 
in. The Medical Director will organize a hospital, in which, 
with supplies and surgical aid, will l)e. left such wounded as 
may be fattdly or d:uigerously wounded, or so seriously that 
transportation will result in permanent injury. Others will be 
taken in ambvdances. ""• - '^' V. Every man of the 
command will carry sixty rounds of annnunition. forty in th<> 
boxes and twenty in the knapsack or haversack.'" 

At daylight on the morning of the 30th. that portion of the 
army which had not crossed the river wei'e attacked b\- the 
enemy. A most furious and determined battle ensued, and at 
about one o'clock v. M. not a rel)el who could aet awav was left 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 167 

upon the field. It was a most decided but dearly bought vic- 
tory. It is said that soon afterward General Kirl)y Smith sent 
in a flag of truce for permission to liury his dead and care for 
liis wounded ; finding but a small burial party of our men, 
they were taken prisoners, and Smith proclaimed a great rebel 
victory. In this battle our loss was seven hundred (700) men. 
in killed, wounded and missing. That of the enemy is reported 
to have been 2,300 men, among them three Generals. The 
regiment did not take an active part in this battle. [It was 
almost exclusively an infantry engagement. General Fegan 
with his cavalry division was already on the northern side of 
the river, intending to cut ofi* our retreat to Little Rock. But 
General Steele was equal to the emergency. After the Ijattle 
he at once set his cavalry in motion, and it was now a race be- 
tween General Fegan's cavalry and our own foi- Little Rock. 
We reached the city May 1st at five p. m., while General Fegan 
made a hasty retreat for a place of milder temperatiu'e. Gen- 
eral Steele with his army arrived at the city May 3d. For the 
last few days of this disastrous campaign the men were without 
rations, subsisting on parched and raw corn, with coffee, and 
w hat little food could lie found among the inhabitants. During 
the first part of it there were good roads, and everything passed 
off pleasantly; but vvdien the line of march led among the 
swamps and bayous of southern Arkansas, amid rain and mud. 
with rations exhausted, and an active, vigilant foe in superior 
nimibers ever on the alert to take advantage of any mismanage- 
ment oil our |)art, it required the utmost bravery, fortitude and 
devotion to country to bear the hardships and })rivations with- 
out complaint. Colonel Fugleman in his congratulatory order 
well says : "The liravery and fortitude of the men, maintained 
under the most trying circumstances, not only in meeting and 
defeating an enemy far more numerous than themselves, in 
sufl'ering exposure to drenching rains, and being comjielled for 
nights in succession to lie in swamps, but above all bearing th(^ 
attacks of gaunt hunger, and yet obeying every order of theii- 



168 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

officers with cheerfulness and alacrity, entitle them to the con- 
sideration and gratitude of their country.'" 

Following is a copy of General Steele's congratulatory or- 
der to his troops : 

Headquarteks, Department of Arkansas, &c.. 

Little Rock. Arkansas. May 9th. 1864. 
General Orders No. 23. 

To you, the troops of the Seventh Army Corps, who participated in the 
recent campaign designed to co-operate with General Banks' movement 
against Shreveport. the Major General commanding tenders his earnest 
and grateful thanks. Although you were compelled to fall back with- 
out seeing the main object of the expedition accomplished, you will 
have the satisfaction of knowing that you have beaten the enemy 
wherever he has met you in force, and extricated yourselves from the 
perilous position in which you were placed by the reverses of the co- 
operating column. This let loose upon you a superior force of the ene- 
my, under one of their best Generals, causing the loss of your trains, a 
total interruption of your communications, and rendering it impos- 
sible for you to obtain supplies. You have fallen back over rivers and 
swamps while pressed by a superior force of the enemy, and this you 
have done successfully, punishing the enemy sevei"ely at the same 
time. The patience with which you have endured hardships and 
privations, and your heroic conduct on the battle field, have been 
brought to the notice of the Government, and will furnish a page in 
the history of this war of which you may well be proud. 

F. STEELE. 
Official : Major General Cominduding. 

. Assistant Adjutant (ienrral. 

In December, 1888, tlie writer's attention was called to what 
l)urported to be a copy of the official report of General Mar- 
maduke of his operations against General Steele on this expe- 
dition, taken from the Southern Magazine of April, 1872. 
The St. Louis Globe-I)(Hnocrat. of Deceml)er 10, 1885, in an 
editorial, made a just and correct criticism of the rejiort. Gen- 
eral Mamiaduke's re})ort was so manifestly incorrect that an 
article was published in the Globe-Democrat as a very brief 
I'eply to it. Tlie report is here inserted, as an iUustration of 





Capt. a, W, HDSFDRD 



COMPANY G. 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 169 

the manner and style of ^ ' Confederate ' ' officers' reports. The 
reply is also inserted. 

(GENERAL MARMADUKE'S REPORT. 

Headquarters Marmaduke's Division, 

In the Field, May 28th. 1864. 

Colonel : — In obedience to orders from the Major General com- 
manding'. 1 have tlie honor to make the following report of the opera- 
tions of my command in the campaign against the Fedei-al forces under 
Major General Steele, which was ended on the 30th ult. by their re- 
treat aeross to Saline, and to their base. Little Rock. 

At the time information was received of the advance of Steele's 
army from Little Rock southward on the military road and of his ai-- 
rival at Benton, my division, consisting of CabelPs Arkansas cavalry 
brigade and Shelby's and (Greene's (Marmaduke's) Missouri cavalry 
brigades, numbering about thirty-two hundred (3.200) effectively armed 
and mounted men for duty, was stationed as follows : CabelFs brigade 
sixteen miles west of Washington, and sixty-six miles from Camden : 
Shelby's and Greene's brigades at Camden. To meet the movement of 
the enemy I made the following dispositions : March 22d, Cabell's 
brigade was ordered to Tate's Bluff, twenty-three miles northwest of 
( 'amden. at the junction of the Little Missoui"i with the Ouachita river : 
March 25th. Shelby's bi-igade was ordered to Pi-inceton. but no forage 
being there, moved fifteen miles northeast of Princeton, (forty-seven 
miles from Camden), and on March 28th. with Greene's brigade and a 
section of Blocker's battery under Lieutenant Zimmerman, I marched 
directly to Tate's Bluff. The several brigades could by this disposition 
co-operate against the enemy's front, if need be. Cabell and Greene 
against his front, while Shelby was in position to march directly to and 
()])erate u])on his rear. On ray arrival at Tate's Bluff. March 30th. 
finding no forage nor subsistence in its vicinity, and ascertaining that 
the enemy. !».;>()() strong, infantry, cavalry and artillery, had reached 
Kockport and were marching upon Arkadelphia. I ordered Shelby to 
cross the Ouachita river and move upon the enemy's rear, and Cabell's 
brigade, (which in view of the probability of the en6my advancing di- 
rect upon Washington, and the deai-th of forage and subsistence at 
Tate's Blvitt". had been ordered to halt fifteen miles southwest of that 
point, ) to cross the Little Missoviri by the militai-y road and resist him 
in front, while (rreene's brigade (the middle column) would cross the 
Little Missouri at Tate's Bluff and attack his left flank, and as he ad- 

22 



170 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

vanced southward from Arkadelphia to co-operate with Cabell, each com- 
mand to make short and desperate attacks, retire, and attack again, 
until the enemy reached the Little Missouri river, when all would con- 
centrate to prevent the passage of that stream. Before the several 
brigades could cross the river and get into position, the enemy had 
entered Arkadelphia. 

On April 1 st, Steele with his whole force moved out of Arkadelphia, 
directing his march on the •• military road" toward Washington. Late 
on the evening of the 1st the scouts in advance of Shelby's brigade had 
entered Arkadelphia. capturing a dozen stragglers, including one Cap- 
tain, and closed up the enemy^s rear ; but the main body of his brigade 
had not arrived. Cabell had. however, moved up to the Antoine. 
eighteen miles southwest of Arkadelphia. and his advance, commanded 
by Lieutenant ('olonel Fayth. struck the advance of the enemy, con- 
sisting of two regiments of cavalry, near Spoonville. ten miles south- 
west of Arkadelphia. Here several sharp fights occuri-ed. in which 
the enemy sutfered considerable loss and were driven back upon the 
main body. (Ireene. on the enemy's left, had attacked and driven in 
with loss his flankers to the main body. On the night of the 1st Steele 
encamped near Spoonville. having inarched only ten miles. Shelby 
enca,mped that night near Arkadelphia. Cabell on the Antoine, and 
(Jreene was at nightfall about eight miles east of Spoonville. The de- 
sign of the enemy evidently was to co-operate with the Federal army 
under Banks, then moving against Shreveport. His shortest route to 
Shreveport was by way of Washington. The crossing of the Little 
Missouri liver on the military road was a good one. The latest infor- 
mation from my scouts on the 1st (I was then with Oreene's column) 
was that Steele had certainly advanced as far as Spoonville, on the di- 
rect Wiishington rond. These facts taken in consideration, I ordered 
Colonel Greene to leave Lawther's regiment of his brigade on the en- 
emy's left flank, and. mar-ching that night, join Cabell at Cottingham's 
Stoi-e. fourteen iniles northeast of Washington and thi-ee south t)f Lit- 
tle Missouri river on the military road. Before daylight on the morn- 
ing of the "id I had joined ( "abell at ,\ntoine. At Spoonville a good 
road makes off southward fi'om the military road by way of Okalona to 
Elkins" Ferry, and by-roads leading from it to several of the fords and 
ferries on Little Missouri river. Feai'ing that Steele might take this 
road and reach and occupy one of the fords below the milita.ry road 
crossing, on the morning of April '2d. after leaving Monroe's regiment. 
Fayth's battalion and a section of Hughey's battei-y. all under command 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA C'AVALRY. 171 

of Colonel Monroe of Cabell's brigade, at the Antoine. 1 withdrew the 
balance of the regiment to Cottingham's Store, where he could either re- 
inforce Monroe when driven back to the river, or resist the occupation 
by the enemy of any of the fords below the military road. 

No change appeared in the direction of the enemy's march on the 
2d. His supposed advance came up with Colonel Monroe's force at the 
Antoine, and was driven back with loss ; Monroe, according to instruc- 
tions, then falling- slowly back. At Wolf creek he again halted and 
took position : the enemy again advanced, and this time Monroe by his 
excellent dispositions, the well directed fire of the small arms of his 
command, and of the section of Hughey's battery, drove him in wild 
disoi'der back upon his main body. At two o'clock p. m. the march oi 
the enemy was partially developed — he had taken the road leading off 
by way of Okalona. Simultaneously almost with this information, the 
small picket which had been stationed at Elkins' Ferry galloped up to 
inform me that the enemy had occupied that ford with a •• small force." 
About four o'clock Greene arrived, having marched when he heard the 
firing between Monroe and the enemy in a northwesterly direction to 
the assistance of Cabell — as he supposed — but finding that the enemy 
was in strong force, and would in his position then overpower him. re- 
tired to Cottingham's Store. By this time the enemy had occupied El- 
kins' Ferry with a strong force, and posted artillei'y to sweep any line at- 
tempting to drive them from it : and his main body was in suppoi'tiug 
distan(;e. 

In the meanwhile Shelley, encountering the enemy's rear guard, con- 
sisting of a brigade of infantry, i-egiment of cavalry and a battery, had. 
with the gallantry and dash which ever accompany him and his brigade, 
charged in line of battle mounted — charged and charged again until 
the sun went down, and driven it to seek safety with the main body, 
now encamped twelve miles from the scene of his first attack. Shelby 
then encam])ed. In this day's fight, foremost in the pursuit, fell mortally 
wounded Second Lieutenant Trig-g of my escort, who was sent by me 
to (General Shelby with dispatches, and having accomplished that duty, 
and the fight coming on. joined the advance and there fought with a 
valor worthy the emulation of the bravest. Captain Thorpe, of EUiofs 
battalion, the advance, charged with his company through a regiment 
of Federal infantry, scattering them to the four winds. He received a. 
sevei'e though not mortal woimd in that charge. 

Placing a sufficient force at Elkins' Ferry to hold in check any fur- 
ther advance until it could be reinforced, Cabell's and (ireene's brig- 



172 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

ades were sncamped so as to reach in time any of the fords yet liable to 
be crossed by the main body of the Federal army. April 3d was passed 
by the enemy in closing up to the river with his main force. His point 
of crossing was not yet ascertained, and Burbridge's regiment of 
(Jreene's brigade, under Lieutenant Colonel Preston, was thrown for- 
ward to make a force reconnoissance at Elkins' Ferry. Late in the day. 
after having driven in the advanced posts on the south side of the river 
with sharp skirmishing, the enemy was discovered in heavy masses. 
Yet during that day his main body still remained on the north bank. 
His slow, changeful marches, his seeming indecision, were inexplicable 
until Shelby's cannon were heard in his reai-. On the morning of the 3d. 
Shelby had again attacked his rear guard, when, finding that it was 
being heavily reinforced and closing its flanks around his small force, 
he withdrew in good order. In these actions General Shelby fought his 
brigade entirely mounted, and time and again the irresistible charge of 
his line thoi*oughly demoralized and completely routed the long and 
serried lines of the enemy's infantry, causing them great loss in killed, 
wounded and prisoners, while Collins' battery did most eflfective service 
and almost exceeded its usual superlative excellence in the accuracy of 
the fire and the devoted bravery of the company. 

On the 4th, as afterward appeared. Steele commenced crossing his 
main army. Having concentrated Greene and ( 'abell in front of the 
ferry, posted the main portion of Cabell's brigade as a reserve on a nat- 
urally strong position at the edge of the bottom, with Greene's brigade. 
Colonel Greene commanding, one piece of Blocker's battery, under Lieu- 
tenant Zimmerman, Monroe's regiment. Colonel .S. C. Monroe com- 
manding, and a section of Hughey's battery under Lieutenant Miller of 
Cabell's brigade. l.-iOO in all. I advanced and attacked the enemy to 
finally determine if he intended to cross his whole force here, and to 
relieve Shelby. The troops were rapidly formed and the attack quickly 
and vigorously made, which resulted in my driving the enemy two 
miles before he could mass his foi'ces against me. Lieutenant Fackler 
of my staflf was captured in this affair. From the official reports of the 
enemy, captured afterward, it appeared that I fought a greatly superioi* 
force and killed and wounded a great number. I cannot pay too high 
a ti'ibute to the alacrity, steadiness and splendid bi'avery of (ireene's 
brigade and Monroe's regiment, nor- compliment the artillery of Lieu- 
tenants Zimmerman and Miller more fittingly than in the enemy's own 
language, who complained that our •• artillerists must have measiu-ed 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 173 

the ground before the battle." The enemy's design of crossing- here 
was now made fully manifest. 

Shelby was enabled to join me on the evening of that day without 
molestation, and again my whole force was united. No forage being in 
the vicinity of the ferry, I was compelled to withdraw my main force on 
the morning of the 5th to the south side of Prairie U'Anne, on the 
Washington road, about sixteen miles from the fen\v. Here I had 
breastworks of logs and small earthworks thrown up. with which to 
deceive the enemy into the belief that I would hei'e give him battle. 
This day my outpost, Greene's regiment, under Lieutenant Colonel 
( 'ampbell. skirmished heavily with him, and again on the 6th. On the 
7th the enemy continued to advance slowly, my advance under Captain 
Porter of Burbridge's regiment skirmishing with him the entire day. 
(xeneral Price now arrived with Dockery's and Crawford's brigades and 
Wood's battalion and took command. Cabell's brigade was taken from 
me and placed in Fegan's division. On the 8th the enemy again ad- 
vanced, driving Captain Porter with my outpost to the northeast edge of 
the ijrairie. Greene's brigade was then relieved from outpost duty by 
troops of Fegan's division. 

On the evening of the 9 th the enemy, having been reinforced by 
Thayer's division from Fort Smith. 4.000 strong, cavalry, infantry and 
artillery, marched upon the outposts of ovu- army under General Dock- 
ery, drove them in, and was preparing to flank (General Shelby's camp 
when he evacuated it, and being ordei-ed to keep in the enemy's front, 
threw his force into line of battle across the Elkins' Ferry and Wash- 
ington and Camden roads, ordered Dockery to protect his flank, and 
attacked the advancing enemy. The picket flghting soon assumed 
heavy proportions. The enemy moved up and opened upon Shelby with 
flfteen pieces of artillery and continued to advance : but the resistance 
was as dogged as theii- advance was overwhelming. The section of 
( 'ollins" battery under the immediate command of Captain ('ollins with 
almost unexampled courage held the artillery column of the enemy at 
bay, while the brigade, swept from flank to flank by the flei-ce fire of 
artillery and small arms, budged not until the order for retiring came. 
At nightfall the enemy had advanced but half a mile south of his position 
in the morning. At midnight I withdi-ew Shelby. The enemy had now 
reached the point where the rojids from Washington. Camden and Louis- 
ville join, looking northward. He wished to move to Camden, but he 
could not leave a force so near- on the Washington road to attack his 
real', and he feared to attack Iht- fortified position on the .-southwest 



lY-i HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

edge of the prairie. Two days he spent, the 10th and 11th. in prepar- 
ing for hattle. On the 12tli. with his whole force in line of battle, a glo- 
rious sight in the open prairie, he moved upon the works, flanking them 
upon the left — to find them abandoned. The works had served their 
purpose admirably, deceiving the enemy and forcing him to waste his 
time and keep his army starving in a barren country foi- nearly three 
days. Greene's brigade was again in action, skirmishing in the ene- 
my's front and bringing up the rear of our army, with its usual cool, 
desperate courage. 

On the night of the 12th my division encamped on Frairie de Khoan. 
and for the first time in fourteen nights enjoyed iminterrupted quiet. 
On the morning of the 13th. at ten a. m.. we were again en route to 
reach the enemy's front and oppose his advance on Camden. At four 
p. M. on the 14th we were in his front, fourteen miles from Camden, at 
the junction of the Prairie D'Anne and Camp Bragg and Camden and 
Washington roads, having marched sixty miles. That evening, night 
and the next day were spent in continued fighting. Late on the even- 
ing of the 15th, finding that the enemy was determined to reach Cam- 
den that night, and that further resistance was unwise and uprofitable. 
and having sent Captain John C. Moore, my A. A. General, to Camden 
to destroy such government property there as would benefit the enemy, 
and leaving Colonel Lawther's regiment with orders to contest the ene- 
my's advance, and after being driven from Camden to move out on the 
Shreveport wire road, and watch the enemy on that approach. I crossed 
my command from the Prairie D'Anne and Washington road to the 
Camp Bi-agg and Camden i"oad and encamped eight miles from Cam- 
den. Colonel Lawther fought the enemy's advance in gallant style to 
the town, and encamped as directed. That night the enemy occui)ied 
Camden. 

Such were the operations of my command up to the entrance of 
Steele's army into Camden. For over three weeks no day passed with- 
out hard marching and fighting ; few nights in which it had rest. Its 
rations consisted mainly of jerked beef, with occasionally corn meal. 
During that time no complaint was ever heard ; theii- courage was high 
and confident ; their conduct in battle admirable and worthy the highest 
praise — indeed in and out of battle it was noble. For the last six days 
we were assisted by other ti-oops : during the remainder of the time we 
were opposed alone to the enemy, and General Steele's army of l;! ()()(> 
m<en consumed twelve days in marching about as many miles. 

The enemy was now encamped in and around Cajnden. On the Kith 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 175 

Shelby's brigade was ordered to Miller's Bluff to watch the river, and I 
then had only Greene's brigade of about 500 effective men with me. 
On the 16th Greene drove in the enemy's pickets on the Prairie D'Anne 
road. They were driven in on the 1 7th by various roads by portions ol' 
that brigade. On the morning of the 17th Colonel Greene's scouts in- 
formed me that a large train. 225 wagons, with a guard of three regi- 
ments, two of infantry and one of cavalry, and two pieces of artillery, had 
moved out on the Prairie D'Anne road from Camden. 1 wrote to General 
Fegan for assistance, as I had only 500 men. He sent me immediately 
Cabell's and Crawford's brigades. That night I marched to attack this 
train, but was met with information that the guard had been reinforced 
by two regiments of infantry and two pieces of artillery, making their 
force now 2.500 and foui- pieces of artillery. With the reinfoi-cement 
of Cabell and Crawford my force was but 1.500. and as I was certain 
the train could not return until next moi-ning, I wrote to General Fegan 
for more assistance, and requested him to send my letter to General 
Price for his approval. The plan was for Greene, Cabell and Crawford 
to intersect the road ten miles from Camden, for the other troops to en- 
ter the road at Poison Springs, fifteen miles from Camden, at eight 
o'clock next morning. The plan was agreed upon. With Greene's. 
Cabell's and Crawford's brigades I marched early, and about ten o'clock 
met the enemy's advanced picket at Poison Springs, di-ove it back with 
my escort and staff, and occupied an advantageous position on the brow 
of a hill, dejiloyed my escort as skirmishers on the slope, and held the 
enemy in check until Cabell and Crawford came up, dismounted and 
deployed in front of the enemy. Greene was held in resei-ve dismounted. 
At this time General Maxey"s troops, chiefly Indians, and Wood's bat- 
talion arrived. General Maxey being my senior in rank. I reported to 
him, asking his plan of battle and stating how 1 had disposed of my 
troops. He answered that as I had planned the whole movement 1 
should take charge and make the fight. This I did, requesting him to 
post his command at right angles with my line, enfilading the enemy's 
line in my front, and to open the fight. My purpose was to cause them 
to ••change front" toward Maxey. and while they were executing this 
movement to attack their flank with the main line. Wood's battalion 
was dismounted by my oi-der and posted on my extreme right ; both 
flanks were guarded by (.'avali*y. Maxey's ti'oops attacked and drew 
the enemy's attention and front toward him. Cabell's and ('rawford's 
brigades, imder (General Cabell, advanced cheering and were driving 
the enemy when (ireene's brigade rushed to the charge, and the enemy 



176 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

was soon broken and their retreat shortly became a rout. After driv- 
ing them two miles. I ordered Wood''s battalion to mount and move rap- 
idly to the front in pursuit of the enemy. General Maxey, who from 
this time assumed command, countermanded this order and put Wood to 
work at the train to assist in getting off the wagons. At this juncture 
I received an order from General Maxey to withdraw the whole force 
from the pursuit. Federal loss in this engagement from -100 to 600 left 
dead on the field, about 100 wounded and 120 prisoners. Fovu- pieces 
of artillery, 195 wagons — six mules each — and many hundred small 
arms were brought off and thirty wagons burned. I cannot but think 
that at least 1.000 prisoners would have been added to the list had the 
pursuit been continued. Cabell, inimitable almost in personal gal- 
lantry, led his command and first broke the enemy's columns, and 
assisted by Greene, who brought up his line under a heavy fire as stead- 
ily as on parade, crushed the enemy, who turned and fled in total con- 
fusion. On the evening of the 18th we were again in camp, (.'abell's 
and C'rawford's brigades reported back to General Fegan, and with 
Greene's brigade I marched on the 19th to the wire road, twelve miles 
from Camden. At the same time Genei-al Shelby's brigade was detached 
temporarily from my command and ordered to General Fegan for duty. 
From the 20th to the 26th inclusive my command was encamped, pick- 
eting to the front, and had various small but successful encounters with 
the enemy. On the 26tli I was ordered to repoi't direct to General 
Smith. On the 27th. the evacuation of Camden by General Steele hav- 
ing been discovered, my command marched to Whitehall on the Ouach- 
ita river, where Wood's battalion was ordered to report to me, swam 
the river, came up with the retreating enemy, and fought him until 
General Smith arrived with the infantry, and the battle of Jenkins" 
Ferry was fought, in which engagement the briga.de was commanded 
by General Greene. 

During this long and arduous campaign, fought as must of it was 
under my own eye, I take pleasure in speaking of the officer-like con- 
duct and the many acts of splendid bravery of my officers and men. 
To speak of the quick perceptions and reckless boldness of Shelbv, the 
cool and chivalrous bearing of Cabell, or the perseverance, thoughtful- 
ness and steady courage of Greene, is telling an oft-told tale. The list 
is too long to nai-rate, but, I say it with pride, of all the officers and 
men in my division not one have 1 seen or heard of who shrank frt)m 
the performance of any duty, however dangerous. 

In conclusion, 1 desire to express my happiness at the conduct of the 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA (CAVALRY. 177 

whole division, and my belief that posterity will do them the honor they 
so Avell deserve. At present I cannot give my losses in killed, wounded 
and missing, as several of the commands which were under me are 
temporarily or permanently absent ; but I am of opinion that my loss 
compared with that of the enemy is as one to twenty. 

JOHN S. MARMADUKE, 

Major General Commanding. 

REPLY TO GENERAL MARMADUKE'S REPORT. 

Lyons, Iowa, December 5th, 1885. 

To THE Editor of the Globe-Demockat : — Some time ago my 
attention was called to an article in the Kansas City Times, entitled 
■•Chasing General Steele," purporting to be a copy of General Marma- 
duke's official report of his operations against General Steele in Arkan- 
sas in the spring of 1864. familiarly known as the "Camden Expedition." 
I have also read with pleasure your editorial entitled • ■ Marmaduke in 
War ■" upon said report. What you have written is eminently propei-. 
just and true in every essential pai'ticular. If there has been no ci-iti- 
cism upon your editorial, perhaps there is no necessity for making re- 
ply to the • • report " of General Marmaduke. If there has been, a con- 
clusive reply can be made. Being personally present in many of the 
engagements, and having copies of official reports made by a number of 
the brigade and regimental commanders, I know whereof I write. 

General Marmaduke' s report is grossly untrue in many particulars, 
and. as you say. " one is moved to wonder if he was in Arkansas at that 
time at all." It is not necessary now to particularize, but will cite his 
report of the capture of a forage train of 180 (not 225) wagons upon 
the Poison Springs road. This train guard consisted of the Second 
Kansas Colored Regiment. Eighteenth Iowa, one section of the Second 
Indiana Battery, and 200 cavalry — a force of not more than 1,800 men. 
The rebel force sent against this train guard, (who not only were 
obliged to defend themselves but also protect the train. ) was, according 
to Marmaduke's report. Cabell's. Crawford's and (Greene's brigades, 
(ieneral Maxey's troop, chiefly Indians, and Wood's battalion — consist- 
ing of about 6,000 men. Verily, it must have been a brilliant achieve- 
ment to captiu-e a train guai-d of 1.800 men with a force of 6,000. and 
yet not until after seven different charges had been made by this over- 
whelming force did the train guard suri'ender. A portion of the Eight- 
eenth Iowa then cut its way out and retui-ned to Camden. 

A cold-blooded butchery followed the surrender — another Foi-t Pillow 

massacre, although of less magnitude. I'he Kansas colored soldiers 
28 



1 78 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

were murdered while asking for quarter, and I have no doubt Marma- 
duke's report of the killed at this time approaches nearer the truth than 
any other portion of his report. The cowards performed their . work 
after the surrender. It was most certainly a brilliant exploit to boast 
of. and displayed an immense amount of strategy. 

While upon this point will give another instance of the chivalrous 
conduct of one of his officers whom he extols so highly. When Shel- 
by's forces entered Hollywood on the morning of April 2d, an officer 
rode up to the house of a widow Coles, who had a son in the Third 
Missouri Cavalry, and asked her whether a negro man then present was 
her property. On her answering in the affirmative, he shot the negro 
twice, one shot taking effect in the negro's neck, the other in his head, 
leaving him for dead. (From the official report of Colonel Engelman.) 
Such men do not fight well, except upon paper at long range. 

I must refer to one more point in his report, in order to show your 
correct estimate of the movement of General Steele when he left the 
••military'" road leading to Washington and took the ••neighborhood" 
road to Okalona and Elkins' Ford. Up to this time Steele moved upon 
the Washington road. Marmaduke guessed he would continue on that 
road, thinking probably that Steele would fall right into the trap he 
(Marmaduke) had provided for him at the •• Good Crossing " of the 
Little Missouri river on the military road, and had everything fixed for 
his reception. But • • the best laid schemes of mice and men gang aft 
a-gley.'" In anxious expectancy he saw on the morning of that day 
Steele's •supposed advance.'" Well, it was Steele's "advance,'" but it 
was a very small -advance."" It was a detachment of the Fii*st Iowa 
('avalry, sent down on the •• military "" road to amuse Marmaduke while 
Steele was taking the • • neighborhood "" road to Elkins' Ford. We kepi 
up the amusement (1 was present with the detachment) until about one 
or two o'clock in the afternoon, and then, our object being accom- 
plished, we I'eturned to the command. This is a very fair example of 
the manner in which Marmaduke was outgeneraled by Steele during the 
entire campaign. 

The battle of Jenkins" Ferry was such an overwhelming defeat of the 
rebels and such a brilliant victory upon our part that Marmaduke fails 
to attempt a description. Like •• Abner Dean of Angels," the ••subse- 
quent proceedings interested him no more."" 

A good story is told, however, of that battle. We made it exceed- 
ingly hot for the •• rebels "" that day — •' hotter'n hell,"' as they expressed 
it. There was always a feeling of jealousy existing between the rebel 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 179 

troops of Texas and those of Arkansas — one claimed to be more cour- 
ageous, daring, and had better "staying"' qualities than the other. A 
regiment from each of these States was in this fight. The Texas regi- 
ment •■ went in "^ and came out in a few minutes, not standing on the 
order of their •• coming out." As they approached the Arkansas regi- 
ment in their rapid retreat, the Arkansas Colonel, in the peculiar Ark- 
ansas tone of voice, called out, ■ ■ Make way thar. Texicans, and let us 
Arkansians in ! ■" The Texas Colonel suppressed his rage and took up 
a position in the rear. The Arkansians "went in," but they " staid in 
a much shorter time than the Texicans." They came out in squads in 
a most demoralized condition— the Colonel as badly demoralized as his 
men. On reaching the vicinity of the Texas regiment, the Texas Colo- 
nel called out in a stentorian voice, imitating that of the Arkansas 
Colonel. " Make way thar, Texicans, and let them Arkansians out ! " 

From the time we first became acquainted with Marmaduke's opera- 
tions in Missouri and Arkansas to the time when he was captured at 
the finale of the Price raid in Missouri, and brought in a prisoner at 
Warrensburg, (the First Iowa Cavalry being there at that time, ) it was 
our opinion that, while General Marmaduke might be personally brave, 
as a strategist he was a successful failure. 

CHAS. H. LOTHROP. 
L(it( SiinjvoH I.st Regt. lawn (Jor. Veteran Volunteers. 

A most interesting coiniminication from Captain W. C. Rovv- 
laiirl. Company H. Eightccntli Iowm Infantry, now residintj at 
Carthage, Missouri, in relation to the battle of Poison Springs, 
is here inserted to show the inaccuracv of (General Marmaduke's 
report of that engagement, and that the facts may become of 
record. If the Eighteenth Iowa had no other record of its 
fighting capacity, the heroic attem))t made to save this forage 
train would place it high on the roll of the fighting regiments of 
Iowa : 

Carthage. Missouri, July 12th, 1886. 

Dk. (;has. H. .Lothhoc. Lyons. Iowa: — Dear Sir — Among my war 
clippings is your letter of December 5th. 1885. to the Globe-Democrat. 
St. Louis, entitled "Marmaduke in War." You refer to his report of 
the (Capture of the forage train on the Poison Springs road. April. '64. 
It may be of interest to know thi; part the Eighteenth Iowa took, and how 
the regiment cut its • way back to Camden." Having lived in Missouri 
since 1865. I have conversed with many ex-Confederates who were on 



180 HTgTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

that field — in fact have fought the battle over with them many times — 
so I have both sides, 

. General Marmaduke gives his force correctly, but ours is over-esti- 
mated. I never saw our official report, but knew the commands en- 
gaged, as they were from General Thayer's division. 

The fora,ge train was out several days before the Eighteenth left 
Camden. The V/agon Master, Jacob Smith, was from my company, 
and he has told me there were 180 six-mule wagons in the train. Col- 
onel Williams, Second Kansas Colored Infantry, commanded. His force 
consisted of his regiment, about 600 strong, a section of the Second In- 
diana Artillery, and about 200 cavalry, a surgeon, etc. 

On April 17th the long roll beat the Eighteenth to arms, with orders 
to march immediately. We had no rations, but with forty I'ounds 
started. Passing the picket, we halted, returned the feeble to camp, 
and had all told, officers and men, 320. Here we were joined by two 
companies of cavalry, two howitzers, ambulance, etc.. Captain Duncan. 
( "ompany B, Eighteenth Iowa, in command. During the afternoon we came 
on the enemy, supposed to be marauders, but have learned since they 
were men of the main body. After some skirmishing and shelling of 
the wood on our part, they retired. We left Camden about two p. M. 
That night we lay on our arms by the roadside, building no fires. We 
stationed pickets and felt secure, believing the commanding General 
would not order out so small a body without knowing the enemy's posi- 
tion ; but we were so near the rebels that our cavali\y and theirs wat-- 
ered at the same creek, only a few rods apart. They could hear our 
men talk. The truth is. Marmaduke lay between the train and Cam- 
den, a little to the south of the main road, and could have easily cap- 
tured us before we got to the train. 

We were kindly spared to take part in the proceedings of the next 
day. About eight o'clock next morning we joined ('olonel Williams, 
several miles west of the Springs : he had the train loaded and was on 
his way to (^amden. In the morning going west, as we passed Poison 
Spring, (a Confederate post office, ) the family residing there were at 
breakfast, and they knew nothing of the enemy ; but when we retui-ned 
about noon they wei-e gone — everything was moved. 

('olonel Williams gave us a ration from the train, and assigned Cap- 
tain Duncan's force as the rear guard. V/hen the attack was made, our 
regiment lay in the lane between the house on the south and the stables 
on the north of the road. Our rear was at "The Poison Spring," and 
some of the men were filling canteens. The wagons were two and three 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 181 

abreast, as the road and timber would permit. East, down the road, 
the ground was depressed, being- quite level for some distance ; then 
a low ridge lay at right angles with the road. The enemy had taken 
position behind this ridge and let his artillery down in the ground so as 
to sweep the road and level land. 

Here the strategist awaited us. Not expecting a large force between 
us and the city, we marched into the trap — a regular ambush. Out- 
luimbering us at least five to one, they did not demand a surrender, but 
opened fire with infantry, solid shot and shell. The latter plowed 
through the trains. The colored regiment in front fought well ; so did 
the others, but it availed nothing. We sent out skirmishers from the 
Eighteenth to protect the sides of the train. We had no idea the enemy 
were in force, but found them endeavoring to surround us. The front, 
fearfully decimated, fell back on the Eighteenth. Their infantry 
charged through the trains, and when the Eighteenth opened fire they 
were not one hundred feet away. Then began the retreat toward the 
northwest ; first to the fence back of us. then to the top of the hill, 
from which we were soon driven. The land lay in sharp, steep I'idges, 
with narrow ravines. The Eighteenth kept up a line and made a stand 
on every ridge. The last was the highest, with steep sides cii'cling us. 
so as to cut the enemy off from our right and front. Here the pursuit 
stopped. It was the design to send the Choctaws. Indian cavalry, on 
us. We could see them in line in the main road across the hollow on 
the south. They could not ride the steep ravine, and having no disci- 
pline, they gave the • • war whoop " — a demoniac yell — and broke for the 
plunder in the train. This disconcerted the i^ebels and saved the Eight- 
eenth. 

Our commanding officers. Colonel Williams and Captain Duncan, 
were gone. There be times when rank is not respected. One of our 
first Captains ran up and down the line and cried out: "Let us sur- 
render like men :" but his noise was soon hushed. Captain Conway. 
Company C. took command : Captain Dean, Company E. the front, and 
Company H the rear. We rallied the men on ourselves and encouraged 
them to stand by us. The terrible war whoop of the Indians put new 
vigor in us. We started northward double quick, in hope to get to the 
swamps and by way of the Ouachita river reach Camden in the night, 
But fortune favored us. We soon came to a settlement, and in the edge 
of the woods captured a citizen, a butternut dressed, long haired, hawk- 
nosed native, one who " knew nothing and never done nothing ;"" but he 
had heard the roai- of the battle. Asked if he knew the road to Cam- 



182 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

den so as to avoid the enemy, he did not. The command halted ; every 
moment was precious, and the Indians were not far away. I ran to the 
front, heard the parley, and settled the matter quickly. Dismounted a 
teamster who had saved --his mule." mounted the citizen and put h 
picked man on each side of him, with orders that if the citizen did not 
get us to Camden without being- fired on by the enemy, to shoot him. 
The boys rammed a charge and capped the guns. This brought to his 
knowledge the way we sought. He guided us to camp. The enemy ^ 
awaited us on the roads leading into the main road, but our citizen cir- 
cled him, and when discovered we were too near Camden to be attacked. 
Three days afterward a burial detail was sent from the Eighteenth to 
the field, under command of Major J. K. Morey. Word had been sent 
that no d — d nigger would be permitted on the ground. The Majoi- 
buried six white officers and eighty men of the Second Kansas. The 
Eighteenth lost sixty-one men killed, wounded and missing. My com- 
pany, H. lost twelve. The white dead were scalped and all were 
stripped of clothing, which was worn by the rebels. To add insult to 
the dead officers of the colored regiment, they were laid on their faces 
and a circle of their dead soldiers made around them. Nearly all of 
our captured died in prison. I never knew the total loss — that is, to in- 
clude artillery, cavalry, etc. 

It may be i^roper to say that the soldiers in charge of the citizen 
were instructed privately not to obey the order, for we expected an at- 
tack every moment. He was assigned to Company H as a pet. In a 
few days I went to the commanding General and told him of the man's 
valuable service, procured a pass, escorted him to the picket and turned 
him loose to render an account to the rebels for aiding the Union army. 
Very truly yours, &c., W. C. ROWLAND, 

Late Captain Co. H, 18th Iowa Infantry. 

The Iowa regiments engaged in this campaign were the 
Eighteenth, Twenty-ninth, Thirty-third, Thirty-sixth and Forti- 
eth Infantry and the First Cavalry. 

On May 2d the regiment with I)rigade was ordered out on a 
reconnoissance and escort for ;» supply train for the relief of 
General Steele's famished army. It met the army on the Benton 
road, about thirteen miles from Little Rock, and remained' iit 
that place as picket guard until those hungry, foot-sore, w eary 
hut heroic "boys" had passed within our hues. On the 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 183 

evening of the 4th the veterans crossed the Arkansas river al 
Little Rock on their homeward march, and on the morning of 
the 5th took passage on a railroad train for Dnvall's Bluff, on 
White river. Arriving at DuvalFs Bluff we embarked on the 
steamer Tycoon for Memphis, Tenn. Arriving at Memphis we 
embarked on the steamer Belle St. Louis for St. Louis, at which 
place we arrived on the afternoon of the 9th, where we were 
most cordially received by our old commander, Brigadier Gene- 
ral J. W. Davidson and his staff, with two companies of cavalry 
as escort. The veterans were soon in line and were escorted 
to General Rosecrans' headquarters, and from there to Turner 
Hall, where a banquet was given by the city authorities, and a 
veteran badge bearing the following inscription presented io 
each man : • ' First Iowa Volunteer Cavalry— Veterans. St. 
Louis, Mo., 1864." This most kindly welcome was highly ap- 
preciated, and we felt that the good people of St. Louis recog- 
nized the early services of the regiment in its conflicts with the 
guerrillas and desperadoes which infested their State. At this 
time also the elegant sabre which had been purchased for him 
was presented to General Davidson. 

Leaving St. Louis on the 14th. the veterans arrived at Bui-- 
lington on the 16th, and the citizens gave us a grand reception. 

The veterans arrived at Davenport May 17th. and were 
soon on their way to their homes to receive the heartfelt 
welcomes of loved ones. Who can portray the joy and un- 
speakable happiness of those meetings, or describe the emo- 
tions of the sinking heart, the pain and anguish of those, 
when inquiry was made for some loved one who did not 
come, were gently told that the comrade was among those 
who had laid them down in death that a nation might live ? 
None but those poor bleeding, broken hearts can realize the sac- 
rifices made during this most eventful struggle. 

June 2(»th the veterans were in camp at Camp Kinsman, Dav- 
enport. On the 22d. their furlough having expired, the veterans 
left Davenport to again do battle in the cause of a united coun- 



184 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

try. June 23d, arrived at Cairo at 3.30 p. m. Received tele- 
gram to report at St. Louis ; the unsettled condition of 
Missouri again required their presence. Started for St. Louis 
on the 24th at seven p. m. on board steamer Empire City, a 
stern-wheel boat. Arrived at St. Louis on the 25th at two p. 
M. , and went into quarters at Benton Barracks ; and while there 
preparing for active duties in the field we will resume the per- 
sonal history of the regiment up to and under its new organi- 
zation. 

Colonel Daniel Anderson, Quartermaster Chas. H. Albers. 
First and Second Lieutenants Mathew Ronaldson and William 
A. Clark, Company C, First Lieutenant William R. Shriver, 
Company E, and Second Lieutenant Warren Y, Reeves, Com- 
pany L, had resigned. 

The promotions were as follows : Major William Thompson 
to Colonel ; Captain J. D. Jenks, Company D, and John Mc- 
Dermott, Company G, to Majors ; Surgeon M. B. Cochran to 
Assistant Surgeon and Surgeon United States Volunteers ; As- 
sistant Surgeon Charles H. Lothrop to Surgeon ; Hospital Stew- 
ard John J. Saunders to Assistant Surgeon, and was dismissed 
the service a few months afterwards ; Hospital Steward James 
Hervey to Assistant Surgeon ; Commissary Sergeant W. W. 
Fluke to Quartermaster ; Rev. James S. Rand to Chaplain from 
private Fourth low^a Infantry. 

Company B — First Lieutenant J. T. Foster to Captain, Sec- 
ond Lieutenant PL P. Shiffer and Sergeant H. S. Heberling to 
First and Second Lieutenants. 

Company C — Sergeants T. J. R. Ferry and C. M. Turner to 
First and Second Lieutenants. 

Company I) — Second Lieutenant George M. Walker to Cap- 
tain, and Sergeant William B. Ramsey to Second Lieutenant, 

Company E — Sergeant William B. Coulter to Second Lieu- 
tenant. 

Company G — Sergeant A. P. Hosford to Second Lieutenant. 

Company K — First Lieutenant Thomas H. Barnes to Captain, 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 185 

Second Lieutenant Charles F. Keeler and Sergeant James M. 
Russell to First and Second Lieutenants. 

Company L — Sergeant John M. Enochs to Second Lieutenant. 

The following were honora])ly discharged from the service : 
Major Levi Chase, Captain S. S. Burdett, Company B, and 
Robert L. Freeman, Company K. Captain Burdett was on de- 
tatched service from 1868 to muster out as Provost Marshal of 
the District of St. Louis, and Provost Marshal General of the 
State of Missouri. Captain Freeman was on detached service 
from 1863 to muster out as Assistant Adjutant General on staffs 
of Generals Orme, Davidson and others. 

Soon after arriving at Benton Barracks the veterans were 
mounted on horses belonging to the Seventeenth Blinois Cavalry 
and ordered out in pursuit of a band of desperadoes commit- 
ting depredations in the western vicinity of St. Louis. 

The following recital of the movements and operations of the 
veteran portion of the regiment is taken from the memoranda 
of the writer, made at the time : 

On the return from this expedition they were mounted and 
equipped, and on July 21st left for northern Missouri, by the 
way of the North Missouri railroad, and arrived at Macon City, 
a town in Macon county, at the junction of the North Missouri 
with the Hannibal & St. Joe railroads, on the '22d. From thih 
place they were ordered to Cameron, in the southeastern portion 
of Clinton county, a small town on the Hannil)al & St. Joe 
railroad, about thirty-live miles distant east from St. Joe. 
Here a scouting party of 250 men of the regiment and of the 
Sixth Missouri Cavalry, M. S. M., were ordered out ; and on 
the 27th the remaining })oi-tion of the command ordered to 
return to Macon City, arriving at that place on the morning of 
the 28th. General Jim Lane and the Honorable Ben Loan, hav- 
ing been at a conference of Republicans at St. Louis, stojjped 
here on their way home, and made rousing j)olitical sjjeeclies in 
the afternoon. The regiment remained here doing seouting duty 

until August 9th, at which time it was (U'dered to Mexico, a 
24 



186 HISTORY or FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

town on the North Missouri railroad, and the county seat of 
Audrain county. Here, by order from headquarters Eighth 
Military District E. M. M., Lieutenant Colonel Caldwell as- 
sumed command of the "Sub-District Mexico, Missouri, com- 
prising the counties of Audrain, Pike, Callaway, Lincoln. 
Montgomery, Warren and St. Charles, Captain R. M. Rey- 
nolds, Company A, Acting Assistant Adjutant General. 

The following is a copy of Lieutenant Colonel (^aldwellV 
order on assuming command : 

Headquarters Sub-Distrk^t of Mexico, Missouri. 

August 26th, 1864. 
(General Order No. 2. 

Whereas, all citizens owe allegiance to constituted government and 
all citizens of the United States owe personal military service, when 
the public peace requires such service, when called out by proper 
authority, it is hereby ordered : 

T. A complete list or roll, embracing ;ill citizens subject to military 
duty or service, shall be made out and kspt by the Provost Marshal or 
post commander at every post or town in this sub-district, vt'hich shall 
be used as a roster for details upon such citizens for temporary military 
duty as hereinafter directed. 

II. Whenever, in the judgment of any Provost Marshal or com- 
mander of any post or town in this sub-district, the public safety re- 
quires it. he is hereby directed to call out such citizens and arm them 
for temporary duty at such post or town, detailing them by name from 
the above roster, and any one refusing to comply, or failing to attend 
when so detailed, will be immediately ari-ested and brought to these 
headquarters. 

III. Wher-e voluntary organizations exist fo)- home defense, the 
Provost Marshal or commander of the post oi' town shall make details 
upon the commanding officers of such organizations, who will be held 
responsible for the prompt attendance of such details, and will arrest 
and bring to these headquarters any who may r-efuse oi' fail to report 
when so detailed. 

IV. It must be distinctly understood that those who do not belong 
to any vohmtary oi'ganization for home defense, shall not be thereby 
exempt from duty, but shall be required to perform their full share 
of duty by details from a. roster of that class, made out and kept by the 
Provost Marshal or ])ost commander, and none .shall be exempt from 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 187 

such duty unless excused by the Surgeon for disability. The com- 
mander of the post or town shall appoint an examining surgeon when 
there is no Surgeon on duty, when such cases arise. 

V. No detail shall be made for over twenty-four (24) hours, at any 
one time, unless from absolute necessity, and great care should be 
observed that the ordinary daily occupation of citizens be disturbed as 
little as the public safety will permit. 

By command of J. W. CALDWELL. 

LI. Col. Isl Iowa Cav., Comdg. Sub-Dist. Mexico, Mo. 

Official : R. M. Reynolds, 

Capi. Ist Iowa Cav., A. A. A. O. 

The headquarters of the regiment remained here until Octo- 
ber, at which time it was ordered to Jefferson City, to engage 
in the campaign against General Price's raid into Missouri. 

During the time we were stationed at Mexico, guerrillas and 
l)ands of outlaws were most active in their operations of rapine 
and murder, and the regiment was on continuous outpost and 
scouting duty. About this time Hospital Steward James Her- 
vey received his commission as Assistant Surgeon of the regi- 
ment. It was a most worth}^ promotion. He had performed 
the duties of Hospital Steward most faithfully for a period of 
three years, and was well (|ualified and justly entitled to his 
})romotion. 

September Sth a detachment of the regiment had a brisk 
skirmish with a band of outlaws, at a place called Persia Hills, 
in Boone county. The face of the country in that section is 
\ery broken, hilly, and studded with scrul) oak and other tim- 
ber. On account of the place being so difiicidt of access, it 
was headquarters and a })lace of rendezvous for out Imw.-. and 
guerrillas. These hills are a continuation of thcO/ark langc 
of mountains, and extend into southern and western Iowa. 
The First Iowa (^avalry, bringing into action their early expe- 
rience in the I )usji whacking tactics, soon put them to flight and 
their place of rendezvous was l)roken up. On the 'iTth the 
combined l>ands of des[)eradoes and gu(u-rillas. under Bill An- 
dei'son, Thrailkill. Poole and the two Todds. numberinof nearh 



188 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVAI^RY. 

400 men, all wearing blue overcoats, captured a passenger 
train going north, at Centralia, a station on the North Missouri 
railroad. They robbed the passengers and killed twenty-three 
soldiers who were on the train, three only of whom were armed. 
Among those killed were seven veterans belonging to the First 
Iowa Cavalry, as follows : Owen P. Gore, Company A, Oscar 
B. Williams and George W. Dilley, Company B, Edward Ma- 
dera and John Russell, Company C, Joseph H. Arnold, Com- 
pany E, and Charles Carpenter, Company K. 

Those belonging to the First Iowa Cavalry were going to St. 
Joe on business, requiring no arms ; others were on furlough 
from General Banks' army, and a few who had been discharged 
from General Sherman's army. A construction train was fol- 
lowing the passenger train, which was also captured, and the 
engineer compelled to run his locomotive over the bodies of the 
soldiers lying on the track- Two of the soldiers were scalped 
and all more or less mutilated after death. The station was 
burned and the agent of the road killed. Not satisfied with 
this inhuman piece of deviltry, they set the train on fire and 
started it off' toward Sturgeon, another station on the road, 
with the remaining passengers in it. The passengers, however, 
escaped and walked to Sturgeon. About three or four o'clock 
V. M. Major Johnson, with 135 men belonging to (^olonel Kutz- 
ner's regiment Missouri State Militia, arrived from Paris, the 
county seat of Monroe county. An engagement ensued, in 
which the militia were badly defeated. It was reported at the 
time that l)ut 25 men I'eturned to Paris — 68 were left dead on 
the field. In this affair 130 men were killed. It was a most 
cold-blooded butchery, unequaled in atrocity by any similar act 
during the war-. Major McDemiott, with a detachment of the 
regiment, was inmiediately sent out in pursuit, but the bandit 
and human hyena had made good his escape. 

The following interesting account of the massacre, l)y K. 1. 
Holcomb, late a member of the Tenth Missouri Infantry, now 
residins: at Nevada. Missouri, is here inserted : 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 189 

"•On the 25th of September, 1864, a band of guerrillas, 
bushwhackers, and 150 recruits who had been mustered into 
the Confederate service, all numbering about 400 men, crossed 
the North Missouri railway (now the Wabash) at a point near 
the present site of Moberly, one hundred and twenty-five miles 
northwest of St. Louis. They went eastward into Monroe 
county, threatening Paris, the county seat. The Confederate 
recruits were under the command of Major John Thrailkill. 
The guerrillas and bushwhackers were divided into squads and 
<iompanies of various sizes, led by George Todd, Bill Anderson, 
Dave Poole, Tom Todd and Si Gordon, all experienced and 
noted leaders. The master spirit was George Todd, who 
planned all movements and settled all controversies. Tom 
Todd was a Baptist minister ! 

' ' Learning that there was a strong Federal force at Paris, 
the guerrillas turned southward toward Jefferson City, resolv- 
ing to cross the Missouri and join the army of General Price, 
( known to them to be already in the State and advancing north- 
ward, and at that time at Pilot Knob,) as soon as it should 
come up in that quarter, near the State Capital. They re- 
crossed the North Missouri three miles east of Centralia and 
thirty miles below where they had crossed the previous day. 
and went into camp on the farm of a Major Singleton and in 
the timber along Young's creek, just in the northwest corner of 
Callaway, about three miles from Centralia. 

''The next morning (September 27th) Todd sent Bill Ander- 
son with his company of 75 men up to Centralia to reconnoiter 
and pick up information. A Federal detachment was at Stur- 
geon, eight miles from Centralia, and anothei" at Columbia, 
sixteen miles away. Centralia was then a small village of 
twent3'-iive houses, a station on the North Missouri. Anderson 
rode in without molestation, (there were no troops there); 
sacked the place, gutting the two stores ; robbed the stage 
(•oach from Columbia ; plundered the depot of some cases of 
boots and n barrel of whisky ; Mnd. at alwut twelve oVlock. 



190 HISTOEY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

captured the west-bound passenger train from St. Louis. The 
train — express, baggage and passengers, all — was robbed of 
about $30,000 — not a cent less. Then the cars were fired and 
the train started up the road under a full head of steam, but it 
ran only about two miles when it stopped and burned up. The 
Centralia depot and some cars were also burned. On this train 
were twenty -three Federal soldiers, furloughed men, and one 
man (a German) wearing a l)lue blouse. The guerrillas took 
them off the train, separated them from the other passengers, 
robbed every one of them, stripped the most of them, then 
stood them up in line and shot the twenty-two soldiers and the 
citizen wearing the blue blouse. One soldier. Sergeant Tom 
Goodman, of the First Missouri Engineers, (now at Santa Rosa. 
California, ) was spared by the express order of Bill Anderson — 
wh}', no one ever knew. The murdered soldiers were chiefly 
from the First Iowa Cavalry and First Missouri Engineers. I 
have obtained the names of fifteen of them. Four of the bod- 
ies were scalped ; all were shot more than three times. After 
this scene was over the guerrillas returned to camp, yelling and 
hooting. Some of them ])()re with them new boots filled with 
whisky. 

"The force at Paris was composed of some companies of the 
Thirtieth Missouri, a regiment which had been in service about 
a month, but the most of whose members had served in the 
militia and were not altogether inexperienced. The Colonel of 
the regiment was E. A. Kutzner. The regiment was armed 
only with Enfield muskets and bayonets. 

'• ' As soon as it was learned that the bushwhackers had en- 
tered the county. Major A. V. E. Johnson, of the Tliirty-ninth, 
set out after them with detachments of Companies A, G and H, 
numbering, officers and all, 147 men. Nearly all his men were 
mounted on plow horses, brood mares and mules, • ' pressed 
from the citizens for the occasion. Company A, from Adair 
county, was commanded by Captain James A. Smith ; Com- 
pany (t. from Shelby county, by Lieutenants Jaynes and Gill ; 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 191 

Company H, from Marion and Lewis counties, by Captain 
Adam Theis. 

'• Major Johnson soon took the trail of the gnerrilkis and fol- 
lowed it to where it re-cros.sed the North Missouri, arrivins' at 
the latter point about three p. m. of the 27th. Seeing the 
smoke of the smoldering depot at Centralia, three miles off, 
|-he Major marched his connnand up to the little hamlet to in- 
vestigate. Here he saw and learned what had happened. With 
all proper deliberation and coolness he prepared to act. While 
in the garret of the hotel, in company with Dr. A. F. Sneed, 
then and now a citizen of Centralia, enofased in reconnoiterins: 
the position of the guerrillas as well as he could at a distance of 
three miles across open country, the Major saw a squad of them 
approaching the town. Hastily descending, he prepared to 
attack them. In vain did Dr. Sneed and others remonstrate, 
telling flohnson how many guerrillas were really down at Sin- 
gleton's, how splendidly they were mounted, and how well the3' 
were armed. Major Johnson had been ordered to follow and 
punish the bushwhackers. He had pursued them for twenty- 
four hours ; had come up with them, and found the mangled 
and murdered corpses of twenty-two of his comrades lying fes- 
tering in the sun ; a \dllage robbed and plundered, and the 
people paralyzed with terror. What was he to do ? Turn 
about and flee away from danger, now that he was in its imme- 
diate presence ? There are those who think he should have 
done so for the sake of his men ; but they forget that his men 
were as eager as he to advance (m the " guerrillas. He did h\> 
duty, as became a true soldier. 

'• * I will fight them anyhow I ' the brave officer declarcHl to 
Dr. Sneed. Mounting his horse he hastily formed his men into 
line. Detaching Captain Theis with his company of 30 men to 
remain in the village. Major Johnson marched out to meet An- 
derson's company. Ix'liind which was Poole's, all the guerrillas 
that could be seen. The line halted and fixed bayonets. John- 
son rode twenty paces to the front, and halted, sitting motion- 



192 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

less on his horse, his revolver in his right hand. The guerrillas 
were preparing to charge him — he could see that. 

'•'But Major Johnson could not see all of his fearful peril ; 
at least, it is believed he could not. The fallow cornfield was a 
sort of moraine, sloping to the east. On either side, running 
into Young's creek from west to east was what we in the West 
call a slough, a sort of ravine filled with plum bushes, crab 
. apple, hazel and other brush. Behind this line of brush, se- 
curely hidden, and lying down on their horses, with one foot in 
the stirrup and the other on the ground, were hundreds of guer- 
rillas, the most desperate men then in existence, the best pistol 
shots in America. On the north were Thrailkill, Gordon and 
Tom Todd ; on the south George Todd. In the center was Bill 
Anderson, and lapping his line in the rear was Dave Poole. 

' ' When George Todd had gotten his men into position as he 
wanted them, he lifted his hat to Bill Anderson, the latter lifted 
his hat to Poole, and then with a great yell Anderson dashed 
forward. Johnson's men could fire but one volley, and this 
they did. In a moment Anderson and his band were upon 
them ; then Poole and his men ; then the Todds, Thrailkill and 
Gordon came swarming up from the flanks, and the bloody 
work was soon over. No quarter was shown to a single Fed- 
eral ; perhaps none was asked. The guerrillas say the most of 
the Federals died fighting — striking with their muskets, stab- 
bing and thrusting with their bayonets. Major Johnson fired 
three shots from his revolver, and was then shot out of his sad- 
dle, a bullet through his temple. Lieutenants Jaynes, Gill and 
Moore escaped, being mounted. 

' ' Anderson and Poole kept on for the ' fourth men ' hold- 
ing the horses, and in five minutes were in Centralia. Fifteen 
men were killed between the field and the village. Lieutenant 
Jaynes, (now living near Hunnewell, Shelby county, ) was the 
first in town from the scene of carnage. Captain Theis tried 
to form his company and fight, but before he could do so the 
guerrillas were upon them. All that could then set out for 




C. A, CHASE 



COMPANY L. 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY, 198 

Sturgeon. Fifteen of Theis's company (H) were killed in Cen- 
tralia and on the road to Sturgeon. Some were killed in out- 
houses, and one was murdered by the bedside of a sick lady. 
One citizen was killed by the guerrillas. 

''Out of the 147 men under Johnson's command but 23 es- 
caped, for 123 were killed, and one, Frank Barnes, of Company 
H, was wounded — shot live; times. Com})any A lost 56 men 
killed, including Captain Smith ; Company G, 51 men killed ; 
Company H, 15 killed, 1 wounded. The guerrillas lost but 3 
killed and 10 wounded. Major Johnson had a small piece of 
his scalp taken. Six or eight others were scalped, and Sanniel 
Bell, of Company G, was mutilated in a revolting manner not 
to be described. Some of the bodies were buried at Mexico. 
Missouri ; others by tlie citizens at Centralia. Friends came 
and carried away many. Major Johnson was l)uried in Mar- 
ion county, not far from his home. 

••It is but pro})er that I should say that the i'c})orts which 
have been circulated that Major Jolmson carried a black flag at 
the head of his command ; that he cursed and sAvore at the citi- 
zens of Centralia, threatening them with tlire vengeance when 
he should return from the l)attlefield, and that he was drunk a1 
the time and did not know what he was doing, are all cruel and 
malicious slanders wholly without foundation. Major Johnson 
was a school teacher, and sometimes officiated as a minister. 
He was an honorable. Christian gentleman, temperate at all 
times, and the people of Centrali:i say he s])()ke kindly to and 
with sympathy for them. He perhaps did not know how 
largely the guerrillas outnumbered his men. but no doiil)! if he 
had he would have moved against them just the same. lie 
>aid, • I will tight them anyhow." 

•'The guerrillas carried from two to six Colt's navv re\(»ivei's 

each, and were (|uite proficient in their use. Their iiorse> were 

also the lu^st in Missouri. The Federals had only muskc^ts and 

bayonets for arms, and generally miserable hacks of horses. 

•' Frank James, the noted bandit, was at (V.ntralia. a ni< ni- 
■25 



1 94 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

I)er of Anderson's company. His brother, Jesse, was not 
])resent. ' ' 

About one month afterward, (October 27th,) this fiend incar- 
nate with the rank of Captain in the so-called Confederate 
army, and so recognized by that chief of ' • skedaddlers, " Gen- 
eral Sterling Price, was killed during the ' ' Price raid ' ' in 
Missouri, near the town of Albany, on Fishing creek, in the 
southeast portion of Ray county, in an engagement with a de- 
tachment of the Third Regiment M. S. M. , and was buried in 
an old cemetery at Richmond, a town in Ray county, about ten 
miles northeast from Albany. The following in reference to 
this desperado is from the Illustrated History of Missouri, by 
Colonel W. F. Switzler : ''Upon the body of the brigand 
Anderson was found three hundred dollars in gold, one hun- 
dred and fifty dollars in treasury notes, six revolvers, and sev- 
eral orders from (renend Price. Dano;linff from both sides of 
the bridle of Anderson's saddle horse were several scalps of hu- 
man heads. This statement has often been denied, but it is 
true." The following are two of General Price's orders: 

(Special Order.) 
Headqxtarters Arimy of Missouri. 

Boonp:ville. October 11th. 1864. 
Captain Anderson with his command will at once proceed to the 
north side of the Missonri river, and permanently destroy the North 
Missouri railroad, g'oing as far east as practicable. He will report his 
operations at least every two days. 

By order of Major fxeneral Price. McLEAN. 

Lienk'iKtfU Colonel and A. A. <t. 

October 16th. 1864. 
7'o Officers in charge of Ferry Boat : 

( 'aptain Anderson with his command will be crossed to the other side 

of the river, after which the ferry boat will await orders on this side. 

By order of Major General Price. McLEAN. 

lAeute)iiint Colonel and A. A. G. 

General Price with a following of 26, 000 nien in his raid 
into the State having i-eached the vicinity of Jeiferson City, the 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 195 

i-egiment Avitli the Tliirty-ninth Missouri Infantry were ordered 
to that place. Leaving Mexico on the morning of the 4th of 
()ctol)or. and marching b}^ the way of Concord, Fulton, New 
Hlo»)mtield and Hibernia, the command arrived at Jefierson City 
;it about three o'clock p. m. of the 6th. A skirmiKsh with the 
cneni}' had taken place on the Osage river, about eight miles 
distant to the southeast, and there was much excitement in th<' 
city. On the morning of the 7th " boots and saddles'"' w^as 
xounded at four o'clock, and the regiment ordered into position, 
on a fortified hill the property of a Judge Miller. The enemy 
made an attack upon the place at about eleven o'clock, which 
was continued until nearly dark, with severe loss to him. The 
veterans were now in command of Major John McDermott. 
Lieutenant Colonel Caldwell, having served faithfully and well 
tor more than three years, was honorably discharged the service. 
On the .Sth the enemy had fallen back, and Surgeon Lothroj) 
was ordered out with ambulances to bring in the wounded. 
After proceeding some five miles he found two of oiu- men and 
>e\('ii of the enemy wounded. A rebel Major Bowie and a 
Captain Kee were so severely wounded that they could not he 
iii(»\ed, and wei*e left at a house in charge of Assistant Surgeon 
Looby of the rebel army. Assistant Surgeon Barrett, also of 
the reix'l army, was ordered to accomi)any the woiuided rel)els 
to the city. On arriving at the city the wounded were sent to 
hospital, and at tive o'clock i'. m. tlie regiment with the cavalry 
ili\ision. in conunand of Brigadier Oeneral Sanborn, were or- 
dered to pursue the retreating enemy and attack his rear at 
every favorable opportunity. This order was strictly obeyed, 
and the fa\(M:il>le opportunity was frequent. 

'Hie oi)jeet of lhi> movement was not to bring on a gi'ueral 
engagement, luit to harass and delay the enemy in ordei- that 
reint'oreement^ uhieli were now on a rapid march migiit over- 
take him and give him iiattle. The i-avalry division performed 
it-- work well. The division left the city on the road leading to 
the town «»f California, and camped for the night on a branch 



196 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

of Morean creek, about nine miles distant west from the city. 
On the 9th it marched at daylight, and attacked the rear of the 
enemy about nine o'clock a. m., at a small town called String- 
town. Passing througli Russell ville, we arrived at California 
about dark. Here the enemy was so closely pressed that he 
was obhged to halt and give us battle, but he soon retreated 
and gave us possession of the town. On the morning of the 
10th we were again in pursuit. Passed through Clarksville, a 
small station on the Pacific railroad, about nine o'clock. The 
station house and a warehouse had lieen fired and were still 
Inirning. At twelve o'clock we were at Tipton. This town for 
some reason had not been molested by the enemy. At dark we 
camped about twelve miles distant from Booneville, the county 
seat of Cooper county, near a small town called Coal Bank. 
Here a wounded rebel was taken prisoner. On the 11th, when 
about eight miles distant from Booneville, a portion of the divis- 
ion was ordered toi move up to Wilkinson's liridge on 8ahne 
creek, and from there seven miles to the road leading to George- 
town. Remaining at this place until one o'clock on the morn- 
ing of the 12th, we returned to Wilkinson's bridge. The ene- 
my had l)een so greatly annoyed and delayed that he turned his 
forces upon us and determined to give us battle — but we de- 
clined ""with thanks. "" and countermarched through the little 
town of Pisgah to California, ai-riving at that place at sunset. 
The expected reinforcements tirrived during the night, and after 
"drawing rations'" on the morning of the 13th the march to 
the front was commenced on the same road the march of the 
previous day had been made. We passed tlirough the town of 
Pisgah and left the road leading to Booneville Avhen within 
about eight miles of the latter place, and p;issed through the 
towns of Palestine and Bellair. cam])ing at Nebo Church, on 
the road leading to (leorgetown. At' this place Surgeon Lo- 
throp was ordered to re}:)ort for duty to C^olonel J. F. Phillips. 
Seventh Missouri State Militia, commanding First Brigade, as 
"Senior Surge(m" — there))y placing Assistant Surgeon Hervey 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 19 ( 

in charge of the medical department of the regiment. On the 
inornino; of the l-ith the command marched at five o'clock on 
the road leading to Georgetown, and reached that place about 
noon. After halting a short time it marched in a northeasterly 
direction on the road leading to the town of Lexington, the 
county seat of Lafayette county, situated on the Missouri river. 
After marching seventeen miles we camped about eight p. m. 
near the little town of Dunksburg, at a crossing of a road lead- 
ing from \A^arrensburg to Marshall, the county seat of Saline 
count}'. On the 15th General Price's army was reported to I)e 
at Marshall. The command marched at two o'clock p. m. 
and camped at Cook's Store, a little town in the southeastern 
part of Lafayette county, twenty-three miles distant southeast 
fi-om Lexington. On the 16th reconnoissances were made by 
the First and Fourth Regiments Missouri State Militia in the 
direction of Waverly, a town on the Missouri river. The town 
of Sedalia was captured by the enemy about two p. m. yester- 
day, and he is reported to ))e marching on Warrensburg. 

1 Ttli. The enemy held possession of Sedalia but a short 
Time. The conmiand countermarched and camped on the south 
fork of Black river. This evening the enemy attacked our 
pickets, (xenerals A. J. Smith's and Pleasanton's forces are at 
Sedalia. General Rosecrans has taken the field, and a reor- 
ganization of the army has taken place. General Smith is in 
command of the infantry, and General Pleasanton in command 
t»f the cavalry, and preparations are made for a swift and vig- 
orous campaign. The regiment is ordered to report to (xeneral 
Hosecrans as body guard. 

On the 19th the regiment marched to Sedalia, and on the 
•joth. General Rosecrans having arrived from St. Louis, we 
rcj)oi'ted to iiini for duty. At twelve o'clock we marched, 
and camped at ten o'clock i*. M. at Dunksburg. On the even- 
ing of the 21st we camped at Lexington, having made a hard 
day's march, (ieneral Price left this place this morning (21st), 



198 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

with General Pleasanton in so close pursuit as to compel Price 
to halt and do some fighting with severe loss. 

On the 22d General Blunt with his forces from Kansas were 
in the enemy's front, while General Pleasanton with his cavalry 
tmd artillery was pressing his rear. During the night couriers 
reported the capture of two pieces of artillery, and 500 of the 
enemy taken prisoners. 

On the morning of the 23d we marched at six a. m., and 
arrived at Independence, the county seat of Jackson county, at 
dark, liaving marched forty miles. During the march a report 
of the capture of another piece of artillery and 2,000 men ta- 
ken prisoners was received. The 1:) ridge over Little Blue river 
was burned by General Blunt to impede the progress of the 
enemy. A severe engagement occurred at Westport, a town 
about five miles distant south from Kansas City, between 
the advance of General Price's army and General Blunt's forces. 
At the same time a severe engagement occurred between the 
rear of Price's forces and the force under General Pleasanton 
at Byram's Ford, on the Big Blue river. Distance marched, 
forty miles. 

24th. Marched this morning, taking the road leading to 
Little Santa Fe, in Johnson county, Kansas, near the Missouri 
State line. Passing through the little towns of Raytown and 
Hickman's Mills, we reached little Santa Fe at dark, marching 
a distance of thirty miles. 

On the 25th we left Little Santa Fe in a severe rain 
storm. Marched southerly by the way of the Kansas and 
Missouri State line road. Passed through the little town of 
Janesville, in Cass county, and camped at a place called ''Cold 
Spring Grove," on a broad and extensive plain, in Miami 
county, Kansas. Distance marched, thirty-five miles. This 
place is called Cold Spring Grove from the fact that a large 
spring of clear cold water issues from the earth, surrounded b}' 
a grove of timl)er. There is no other grove of timber within 
view. During the day we passed over many miles of prairie. 



« 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 199 

with nothing but prairie and the broad expanse of heaven with- 
in the range of vision. Neither wood nor water could be ob- 
tained. In the meantime our forces had engaged the enemy 
at various times and places. He had suffered great loss, and 
was now in a most demoralized retreat for the Arkansas river. 

Having received relial)le information as to the defeat of Gen- 
eral Price's army, General Rosecrans with his body guard left 
Cold Spring Grove on the morning of the 26th at daylight, and 
countermarched to Missouri, arriving at Warrensburg, the 
county seat of Johnson county, on the morning of the 27th, hav- 
ing passed through the towns of Janesville, Harrison vi He, 
Pleasant Hill. Kingsville and Haden. Here reports were re- 
ceived of the complete rout and demoralization of the enemy- 
Five pieces of artillery and a large portion of his train were 
captured, and a large numl)er of his men taken prisoners, 
among whom were Generals Marmaduke, Cabell, Crawford and 
others. 

October 31st. Generals Marmaduke, Caliell and CraAvford. 
with a large number of prisoners, were brought in to-day. 
This was a most disastrous campaign for rebeldom. General 
Price had been assured that Missouri was again ripe for rebell- 
ion, and that an army of 25.000 men would rally to his sup- 
port as soon as he entered the State. Information from relia- 
l)le sources show that about 0,000 men joined his army ; and 
much of this material was composed of marauding bands of 
guerrillas and desperadoes who had again infested the State. 
The enemy was pursued along the Kansas and Missouri State 
line into the Indian Territory, to a place called Weber's Falls, 
on the Arkansas river, about fifty miles west from Fort Smith. 
Genei'al Price's army of a1)()ut 30,000 men became little more 
than a demoralized mob of a fcAv thousand men. with no train, 
and with but two pieces of artillery saved from capture. This 
was essentially a cavalry and artillery campaign. General 
Sanborn's cavalry division, by harassing the enemy, caused 
delay, and gave General Pleasanton with his command an op- 



200 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

portunity to overtake him. General A. J. Smith's infantry were 
veterans and rapid '•'marchers.'" but the enemy was still more 
rapid in his retreat, and the cavalry so impetuous in their at- 
tacks and pursuit, that General Smith's veterans could but sel- 
dom get sufficiently near the retreating forces to ol)tain a smell 
of powder upon their war worn battle-flags. 

On the morning of November 2d General Rosecrans, with a 
portion of his staff officers and nine pieces of the captured 
artillery, left Warrensburg for St. Louis by the way of the 
Pacific railroad. A detachmeat of the regiment accompanied 
him as train guard. The remaining portion left at eight a. m. 
for Jefferson City. Passing through Sedalia, Farmer's City. 
Smithton, Otterville, Syracuse, Round Hill, California, Look- 
out Station, we arrived at Jefferson City at about three o'clock 
p. M. of the 6th. 

A severe rain storm followed by a snow storm set in soon 
after leaving Warrensburg. and the weather became extremely 
cold. Snow fell to the depth of from six inches to a foot, and 
there was much suffering among the men. 

November 8th. Election day. Polls were opened, and the 
result of the ballot was : For President — 391 for Lincoln, 2 
for McClellan, and 1 blank. The returns from Clinton county 
gave a unanimous vote of 2S for Lincoln. 

On the 9th we were ordered to march for St. Louis. On 
arriving at the Morean river, on the road leading to Arrow 
Rock, it was found that the river was impassible by fording, 
on account of the high stage of water, and we countermarched 
to a camp in a grove al)out one mile distant south from the 
city, antl an order to a^vait transportation hy boats, which had 
already been ordered to be furnished, was received. This was 
another cold and disagreeable day, snowing and freezing, and 
the men suffered much from exposure. 

On the 12th two steamers arrived to transport us to St. 
Louis. Assistant Surgeon Hervey was placed in charge as 
medical officer of one of the boats. A portion of the veter- 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 201 

ans k'ft the city on the 13th and the remainder on the 14th, 
,111(1 arrived at St. Louis on the 15th and 16th. On the trip to 
St. Louis we came in contact with a number of snags and sand- 
l)ars, but had a very enjoyable time. 

The veterans were now once more in quarters at Benton Bar- 
racks. We remained at St. Louis until December 19th, pre- 
paring for active service in the field again. Major General 
Kosecrans expressed himself as greatly pleased with his veteran 
body guard, and the many favors granted the ''boys"' while in 
the city was conclusive proof of the sincerity of his commenda- 
tions. The hospital was especially favored. A new and most 
roinplete outfit was furnished it. Ample preparations having 
l)eeu made, the veterans left St. Louis on the 19th by the wa\ 
of the Ohio & Mississippi and Illinois Central railroads for 
(auo. Illinois, arriving at that place about seven o'clock i". m. 
on the 20th. On the next day (21st) we embarked on the 
steamers Rose Hambleton and Alexander Spear, and arrived at 
Memphis on tlie inoniing of the 2od, and at the mouth of 
White river, Arkansas, about ten o'clock on the morning of the 
•24th. Here we passed the steamer Alexander Spear, having 
the other jxn'tion of the veterans on board, it having become 
di>.al)l('d. On the 25th we enjoyed a nice Christmas dinner (jii 
itoar<l the boat, and arrixed at DuvalTs Blutt' on White rivei' 
about ten o'clock v. M. On the 26th we left Duvall's Blufi' at 
daylight. I)V the way of IJrownsviUe and Bayou Metoe, and 
arrived at Little Kock about four o'chjck p. M.. December 28th. 
riie other portion of the veterans, who embarked on the other 
-teaiiier. arrived at Little Rock December 29th, by said road. 
( olonel William Thompson, after the expiration of the veteran 
ttirlouirh. returned .June 20th to Little Rock. U])on the arrival 
of the veteran> at that place he assumed coniniand of the rigi- 
nieiit. 

During the time the veterans were on furlough and in ser- 
vice in .Missouri, the non-veterans and recruits, numl)ering 



2« 



^02 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

some 700, under command of Major J. D. Jenks, were eno:ao;ed 
in scouting and outpost duty. 

Up to this time, December 31st, the following additional 
changes had taken place in the personal history of the regiment : 

Lieutenant Colonel J. W. Caldwell, Adjutant J. A. Donnell. 
(Captains Thomas Jones, Company C, David C. Dinsmore, Com- 
pany I, and .lames P. Crosby, Company M, First Lieutenants 
Jacob Hursh, Company F, and Charles F. Keeler, Company K. 
were honorably discharged the service. 

First Lieutenant Silas K. Nugen, Company K. Captain Thos. 
H. Barnes. Company K, and First and Second Lieutenants El- 
kanah S. Foster and Solomon Smith, Company (t, had resigned. 

Major A. G. McQueen had been promoted to Lieutenant 
C'olonel, Henry L. Morrill to Adjutant. Second Lieutenant 
William B. Coulter and Sergeant Christian C. Kaufman. Com- 
|)any E, to First and Second Lieutenants, and Dr. Asa Morgan 
commissioned Assistant Surgeon from civil life. 

At the close of the year 1864 the young State of Iowa, with 
a population in round numliers of ToO.OOd. liad sent to the 
tield 75,475 men — almost one-ninth of her population — a most 
glorious record for the then young State. The militia returns 
for the year were SB, 600 men. She had sent into the tield 
forty-eight regiments of infantry, nine regiments of cavalry. 
:ind four batteries, and man}' of her citizens were found in 
regiments from Illinois, Missouri. Kansas. Ne])raska. Wiscon- 
sin, Dakota, and other States. 



1865. 

The autumn of 1864 had been fraught with such glorious re- 
sults that already the dawn of peace could be distinctly seen in 
the broadening- rays of an unclouded sun of victory, as it arose 
in splendor in the eastern horizon on the morning of the New 
^'ear. 

Sheridan had met with unprecedented success in the valley 
of the Shenandoah. 

Sherman hatl commenced his memorable march to the sea ; 
(irant had Lee •' well in hand ;'"' and the Western troops beyond 
the Mississi[)pi had with characteristic Western energy placed 
the rel)el hordes in that section in a most demoralized condition, 
and the young State of Iowa was justly proud of the part her 
>oldiers had taken in producing this most gratifying conditi(Mi 
of atfairs. 

The following official copy of an extract of a dispatch from 
the self-slylod Governor of Louisiana to the rebel Secretary of 
War at Hichmond, Virginia, indicates the condition of atiairs 
in that portion of the so-called Southern (Confederacy : 

Headquarters Military Division of Wkst Mississipi'i. 
New Orleans, Loihsiana. ()ctol)ei- llth. 1«64. 
• iKNERAL Orders No. 58. 

The subjoined extract from a dispatcli from Htitr/^ W. Allen, styling 
liimself (4overDOi- of Louisiana, to the Rebel Secretary of War. is pub- 
lished for g-eneral information : 

Executive Office, Shreveport. Louisiana, September 26tlj. 18«4. 
Hon. .Iamf.s A. Seddon, Secretary ol War, Richmond, Virginia: 

yfy Dear Sir: ***** xiie time lias come for us to put into the ariii> 
fvcry able-bodied negro man as a soliUer. This should be done immediately. CongresJ* 



204 HISTORY OF FIE8T IOWA CAVALRY. 

should, at the coming session, take action on this most important question. The negro 
knows that he cannot escape conscription if he goes to the enemy. He must play an 
important part in the war. He caused the fight, and he will have his portion of the bur- 
den to bear. 

We have learned from dear bought experience that negroes can be taught to fight, 
and that all who leave us are made to flglit against us. I would free all able to bear 
arms, and put them into the field at once. They will make much better soldiers with us 
than against us, and swell the now depleted ranks of our armies. I beg you to give 
this your earnest attention. 

With assurance of my friendly regard and very high esteem, I remain, 
[Signed, I Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

HENRY W. ALLEN, Governor of Louisiana. 

The class of jjersons to whom it refers will not be conscripted into 
the armies of the United States. If they come within our lines all 
will be freed, and they will be received and treated as refugees. They 
will be accepted as volunteers, or will be employed in the public ser- 
vice, and their families will be cared for until they are in a condition to 
care for them. If a draft should become necessary, no discrimination 
against them will be made in the enrollment or draft. 

By order of Major General E. R. S. Canby. 

C. T. CHRISTENSEN. 
Official : Lt. Colonel, AssH Adjutant General. 

, Acting Assistant Adjutant General. 

It appears that they had learned from dear l)oaght experi- 
(^nce that negroes could be taught to iight. and "'they will 
inake much better .soldiers with than against iis, and will swell 
the now depleted ranks of our armies.'''' 

Upon our arrival at Little Rock, Arkansas, we found that 
our comrades, wdio had served faithfully for a period of three 
years, had been honorably discharged, and had departed for 
home and citizen life, and that their places had been tilled hy 
men ready and anxious to maintain the integrity of the Union, 
and to sustain the reputation for daring deeds and soldierly 
bearing of the braAc old regiment. 

Major (jeneral J. J. Reynolds was now in command of the 
Department of Arkansas and Seventh Army Corps; Brigadier 
(feneral A. R. West in command of the cavalry division of the 
Seventh Army Corps ; and Lieutenant Colonel A. G. McQueen, 
First Iowa Cavalry. Inspector (xeneral of Cavalry. (Second 
Brigade. ) 

The regiuK^nt remained in camp, doing scouting and outpost 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 205 

duty, until January 22d. On the 6th Dr. Asa Morgan, who 
had been appointed Assistant Surgeon of the regiment, reported 
for duty. 

January 1-ith Major Jenks, with detachments of the First 
Iowa and other regiments, was ordered by Ijoat to Dardanelle, 
;il>()ut one hun(h'ed miles up the Arkansas river, at which place 
he engaged a rebel force of 1,600 men under General Cooper, 
killing and wounding DO. For his l)ravery, the successful man- 
agement and termination of the atifair, he was breveted Lieuten- 
ant Colonel United States Volunteers. 

During this time the rebel General Greene, having his head- 
quarters at Pigeon Hill, in Marion county, on the Ouachita 
river, a short distance l)elow Camden, and a distance of about 
eijfhtv miles south from Little Rock, had been attacking our 
pickets, making forays upon our forage trains, and committing 
depredations generally. To prevent further annoyance from 
this source, on the 22d an expedition under the command of 
lirigadiei" General E. A. (^arr, composed of the following 
regiments : First Iowa, First and Third Missouri and Tenth 
Illinois Cavalry, Twenty-ninth Iowa Infantry, and the Twenty- 
tifth Ohio battery — Colonel William Thompson conmianding 
the Second (^avalry Brigade, and Majoi' fJohn McDermott com- 
manding the regiment. Lieutenant Samuel T. Craig, Company 
H, was appointed Brigade Quartermaster, and Surgeon Lo- 
throp Senior Surgeon of Brigade (Second.) The command 
left Little Rock about eleven a. m. and marched on the road 
leading to Pine Bluff, and camped in a severe snow storm, 
ahout eighteen miles distant from Little Rock. (The account of 
this expedition and subsequent events is taken from my notes 
made at the time. ) 

January 23d. Marched this morning and camj^ed eighteen 
miles distant from Pine BlulBF, with good water and plenty of 
wood. Ib'igadier General K. A. Carr and staff' came u]) this 
evening. 

.lanuarv 24tli. Marched this niorninjjf at sunrise. Pleasant 



206 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA. CAVALRY, 

weather ; snow gone. Reached Pine Bkiff about noon, and 
camped about two miles from the town, on the Mt. Elba and 
Monticello road, in timlier, l^eside a small stream of water. 

January 25th. The infantry came up to-day. The weathei' 
has l)ecome cold. The roads are muddy and the mud freezes 
at night. 

January 2(.)th. Marched this morning at daylight. The 
cross road leading to the Mt. Elba road is very bad and our 
progress is slow. The infantry came up behind us. This 
evening we are in camp about three miles distant north from 
the little town of Delhi, on the Mt. Ell)a road, six miles dis- 
tant from Big creek, a branch of the Saline river, fifteen miles 
from Mt. Elba and fifteen miles from Pine Bluff. A companv 
of fifty or sixty rebels are reported to be in this vicinity. 

January 27th. Marched this morning at six, with three 
days' rations in om- haversacks. Arrived at Mt. Elba, on the 
Saline river, at twelve m. A scouting party which had been sent 
down the Saline river returned, having met a rebel force of sixt>- 
men under a Captain Snell. The rebels lost two men killed 
and ten prisoners. Our loss was one killed — name, regiment 
and company unknown. 

The pontoon liridge having been laid across the river at this 
place, (Mt. Elba, ) the cavalry crossed at five p. m. and camped 
about four miles distant from the river and four miles from 
Marks' Mills. The infantry remained at Mt. Elba. 

January 28th. Marched this morning at daylight, and ar- 
rived at Marks' Mills, on the road leading to Princeton, with- 
out meeting the enemy. Leaving Marks' Mills, we passed over 
the old battlefield where Lieutenant Colonel Drake, Thirty-sixth 
Iowa Infantry, fought one of the most heroic battles of the 
rebellitni l)ut was defeated by an overwhelming force. The 
shallow graves had been opened by hogs and other animals, 
and the skulls and other bones of the dead soldiers were exposed 
to view, and the marks of that severe conflict were everywhere 
present. Passing on we crossed Moro Bottom or Swamp, the 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 207 

scene of the retreat of our regiment less than one year ago. 
The bridge still remains the same as then, and the old stump on 
which I sat at the time of the attack upon us is just as promi- 
nent and inviting as a place of rest as then, and the bottom is 
still as muddy. When within about two miles of Camden. 
Lieutenant Dow of Company F having the advance, came upon 
a force of rebels in connnand of a Major Henry. The enemy 
i-etreated, followed by the advance guard in hot pursuit. Dur- 
ing this running engagement private Kimberh% Company D, 
was wounded slightly in the head. The enemy's loss was one 
killed, five taken prisoners, and six horses with saddles, etc., 
• Mjitured. We camped at night about eight miles distant from 
Moro river l)ridore, at a hamlet called Chambersville. 

.January 29th. Marched this morning at daylight on the re- 
turn march. Halted for a time at Marks' Mills, to rest our 
horses and drive in cattle. Crossed the Saline river about four 
I'. M., and camped at Mt. Elba at dark. 

Jaimary 80th. Marched to-day at twelve M..the regiment 
having the extreme rear guard, and cam})ed fourteen miles dis- 
tant from Mt. P:iba. 

.January 31st. Marched this morning at six. and camped 
two miles distant from Pine Blufl'. on the Mt. Ell)a road, in a 
wet. muddy place, (swamj). ) 

F'ebruary 1st. Raining hard this morning. The regiment 
i> relieved from duty with the brigade, and ordered to Mem- 
phis, Tennessee. During this expedition tliirty prisoners were 
taken, and a number of horses and cattle caj)tured. Lieuten- 
ant Charles W. W. Dow, Company L. is particularly men- 
tioned for his daring gallantry in leading the advance guard. 
The rain continued to fall in torrents all day of the 1st and 
night of the scrond (2d), and our camp presented the appear- 
ance of a small lake. At about tAvo o'clock in the morning we 
\ver<' obliged to wade through the water and seek higher 
ground, and later in the morning our camp was removed to a 
more comfortable location. The regiment remained at this 



*208 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

place until February 11th, avvaitinor transportation, at which 
time one boat arrived from Little Rock, and a portion of the 
regiment embarked thereon. The remaining portions were 
obliged to remain until the 14th, at which time they eml)arked 
on the steamer Sir Willam Wallace, and arrived at Memphi-; 
on the 16th at 11.30 a. m. The other portion of the regiment 
arrived during the day of the 17th and went into camp near the 
city. On the 20th the camp was removed to a place about two 
and a hqjf miles south from the city. 

The regiment w^as now in the District of West Tennessee, in 
cavalry division with the Fifth and Twelfth Illinois, Eleventh 
New York, First Mississippi, and other cavalry regiments — Brig- 
adier General R. S. Roberts commanding the district, and 
Brigadier General E. I). Osliand commanding the division. 

The following named officers of the regiment were assigned 
to special duty : Captain R. M. Reynolds, Company A, Acting 
Assistant Inspector General ; Lieutenant Samuel T. Craig. 
Company H, Acting Assistant Adjutant General ; Lieutenant 
C^harles W. W. Dow, Company F, in charge of [)ack train ; 
and Surgeon Charles H. Lothrop, Senior Surgeon of the 
brigade. 

March 3d. The cavahy division, consisting of three brig- 
ades under the conmiand of Brigadier General Osband, left 
Memphis without wagons oi' aiiil)ulances, but with a pack 
train, at 7 a. m., in a sev(>rc rain storm, on the State line 
road, following the line of the Memphis and Charleston rail- 
road. Many of the railroad bridges had been destroyed but are 
being rapidly rebuilt. At night we camped near GermantoAvn. 
about fifteen miles from Memphis. A wet, disagreeabk^ night. 
We have been assigned to the Second Brigade. 

March -Ith. Major General C. C. Washburne assumed com- 
mand of the district to-day, superseding General Roberts. A 
railroad train arrived from Memphis with supplies. Ten days' 
rations and two days' forage having been issued, the conunand. 
luuk'r Brevet Brigadier General J. P. C. Shank, Colonel Sev- 




Capt, J. T, FOSTER, 



COMPANY B. 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. '2<»'.» 

t'lith Indiana Cavaliy, moved at dark due east on the road lead- 
ing to Colliersville, a small station on the railroad, and oami)ed 
al)Out two miles from that place, having passed through a s«n'- 
tion of fine country. 

March 5th. Marched this morning in a southerly direction, 
jjassing through a rich portion of country, hut it has heen par- 
tially tlestroyed by the contending armies in their passage 
through it. The roads are in a fine condition. We entered the 
State of Mississippi at a little town peopled by Irish called Non 
Connah, situated on Non Connah river. The town has heen 
partially destroyed. Passing through the town of Mt. Pleas- 
ant, which has also been destroyed, and Lemars. a small station 
on the Mississippi Central railroad, we camped about one mile 
from the station, on the road leading to Corinth. A nunibei- of 
re1)els were seen to-day. Distance marched thirty miles. 

March 6th. Marched at eight a. m. Passed through Salem, 
an almost deserted town, and camped at Ripley, a town situ- 
ated on the Tippah river, in Tippah county, about dark. The 
connnand remained here until the 9th. Scouting parties were 
sent out. and a numlier of rebels were discovered -'spying" 
about our cam]). 

Foncst with his guerrillas are reported to l)e at Okalona. a 
station on the Mobile & Ohio raili-oad. Lieutenant Colonel 
McQueen with a small force has been sent to Hatchietown. to 
hold M bridge over the Big Hatchie river until luiothcr force 
which iiMs been sent out to destroy the railroa<l and telegi-;ipli 
lino i-etiuns this being the only bridge in this vicinity not 
de>troyed. ^^'hile guarding the bridge Lieutenant Colonel Mc- 
(^ueen's pickets had a brisk skirmish with a portion of Forrest's 
guerrillas, resulting in the defeat and flight of the enemy. 
Kipley i> a pleasantly located little town, situated ;il»(tut ninety- 
live miles southeast from Memphis. 

March 9th. Marched this morning in a cold and scNcre rain 
>torm. on the road leadtng to Salisbui-N, a station on the Meni- 
plii> c*^ Charleston r.-iili-oad. Phe line of niardi led o\-er a 



!ilO HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

mountain range, and during the day the weather became cold 
and snow fell until evening, at which time the weather became 
clear and exceedingly cold. We camped at Salisbury, having 
marched a distance of twenty-seven miles. Several prisoners 
were taken during the day. 

March loth. Marched at seven this morning. Passed 
through Grand Junction and LaGrange, stations on the Mem- 
})his & Charleston railroad, both deserted towns. The Male 
and Female (\)llege at LaGrange had been destroyed, and less 
than a dozen families remain in the town. We crossed Wolf 
creek at this place. The bridge had l)een partially destroyed, 
making the crossing difficult. Passing through the town of 
Moscow, another station on the Memphis & Charleston railroad, 
we camped about forty miles from Memphis. 

March 11th. Marched at seven a. m., and arrived at Mem- 
phis about twelve midnight, in a severe rain storm. From this 
time until April 8d the regiment was engaged in picket and 
scouting duty. 

On the morning of April 3d all of the availal)le force of the 
I'egiment, with that of the Eleventh New York and First Mis- 
sissippi CaA^alry Regiments, left Memphis for a tour through 
the District of West Tennessee. On arriving at Colliersville. a 
station on the Memphis <fe (Charleston railroad, about twenty- 
five miles (';ist from Mem])his, the command was ordered to 
encamy) at that place. Lieutenant ( 'olonel McQueen was placed 
in command, and C^olliersville was made a base of operations for 
the more successful protection of the people residing in this 
poi'tion of the district. 

April U!th. The astoimding intelligence of the assassination 
of President Lincoln on the 14th was received to-day. That 
great heart, so full of love and kindness, so free from guile or 
hate, had by the hand of a Southern assassin been stilled in 
death. >'With malice toward none, Mvith charity for all.'' he 
yielded uj) his pure life, in the interests of Freedom and Na- 



I 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALUV. 21 1 

tional existence. By that dastardly act the mow distrac-ted and 
poverty-stricken Southern people lost tlieii- hcst aiid Iriiesi 
friend. 

In honor of the martyred Pre^^ident, and to show pro})er love 
and respect for the lanient(!d dead. Major (leneral ('. C. Wash- 
l)urn issued the following order : 

Headquakters District of West Tennessee. 
Memi'IIIs. Tennessee. Api-il 17th. 186.5. 

(iENEKAL OUUEKS No. 44. 

The Nation mourns the untimely and violent death of the late I'resi- 
dent of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. 

All officers of this command will wear the usual badge of mourninii 
upon the left arm for thirty days from the date of this order. 

As a mark of respect to the illustrious dead, the public buildings of 
the city and all places of military business will be closed this day from 
sunrise to sunset. 

l^he funeral gun will be fired at every half-hour, beginning a1 sun- 
I'ise. and ending at sunset of this day. 

By order of Major General C. C. Washburn. 

Official: W. H. MORGAN. Major mul A. A. (1. 

. Lieut, and Aide de Camp. 

On tin- IHth, previous arrangement's having Ix-oi made, the 
following order of procession and services to ho perfoinicd in 
incMiorv of our lanienled (h-ad President was issued : 

Headquarters District of West Tennessee. 
Memphis, Tennessee, April 19th. 1865. 
T'he following ordei- of procession and services to be performed to- 
morrow, in memory of our late beloved President, has l)een agreed upon 
Hy the civil and military authoi'ities : 

BAND. 

Two Regiments of Infantry. 

Two Batteries of Artillery. 

(Cavalry. 

BAND. 

Memi)his Militia. 

United States Officers, (unattached.) 

Brigadier (ieneral Chetlain and StafI'. 

Major General ('ommanding and StatT. 



212 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

Sailors from the Gunboats. 

Officers of Navy. 

Clergy. 

Mayor and City Council. 

City Officials. 

Fire Department. 

Police Department and City Employes. 

Masonic Order. 

Odd Fellows. 

Euphrates Lodge. 

Druids. 

Hebi-ew Benevolent Association. 

(ierman Casino. 

Memphis Club. 

German Turners. 

Citizens. 
Colored Societies. 
Colored Citizens. 

BAND. 

Infantry. 
Ai-tillery. 
('avalry. 

The officers of the navy and clergy will join the procession from thesf 
headquarters after the passage of the column of militia. 

The advance of the army will move at 10.30 o'clock a. m. uj) Front 
street, and as the rear of the advance column passes Union street, the 
militia will move forward and join the column on Front street. 

The city authorities and fire companies will form on Monroe street. 

Societies on Madison street. 

Citizens on Jetferson street. 

Colored citizens on Adams street. 

'I'he procession will move up Front street to Overton street — wheel- 
ing to the right through Overton street to Main street — down Main 
street to Court Square. The infantry, on reaching south side of Court 
Square, will wheel to the left and form in mass on the south side of the 
Square, 'i'he artillery and cavalry will pass on until the rear of the 
cavalry shall reach the south side of the Square. The militia will halt 
on reaching the south side of the Square and form in mass in Main 
street, south of the main entrance to the Square. That portion of the 
column in the rear of the militia will file to the left and occupy Court 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 218 

Square, except the fire companies, which will wheel to the left on arriv- 
ing at the north side of Court Square. The infantry, artillery and cav- 
alry forming the rear will occupy Main street in front of Court Square. 
At the Square the following will be the order of ceremonies : 

Dirge — By band. 

Hymn — By Rev. Mr. Miller. 

Reading of Scripture — By Rabbi Tuska. 

Hymn — By Rev. Mr. Allen. 

Prayer — By Rev. Mr. Davis. 

Reading of funeral service — By Rev. Dr. White. 

Funeral address — By Rev. Dr. Gray. 

Prayer — By Rev. Mr. Bliss. 

Benediction — By Rev. Mr. Wheelock. 

Dirge — By band. 
If the weather should be too inclement the ceremonies will be post- 
poned, which fact will be made known by the omission to fire the funeral 
yun each half-hour. No women or children will be allowed in the pro- 
cession. ('. C. WASHBURN. Major General. 

The services were performed auiid a large concourse of citi- 
zens who had gathered at Jackson Square to witness and assist 
in the ceremonial. 

The fall of Richmond on the 8d. and the tmi)i'ecedeiited suc- 
cess of our armies, and tlie disastrous defeat of the rebels. 
resulting in disintegration of their armies and the foi-ming of 
marauding l)ands for pillage and revenge, nuide it necessary 
that stringent orders he issued for the sup})rcssion of the law- 
U'ss acts. For this pur])ose the following orders were issued by 
.Major (lenerai Washburn, and the District of AVest Tennessee 
-iitl'ered but slightly. l)ecause of the ceaseless activity of our 
ti(»<)|)> in their etforts to suppress these bands. Farmers were 
pr(tte<led. and the various industries were resumed with little 
oi 11(1 niolcstatioii : 

Hkadquakteks Distrust of West Tennessee. 
MKMPnis. Tennessee. April 17th. 186.5. 

• iKNEKAl. OkDKKS No. 45. 

The fall of Richmond, and the capture of the jirincipal rebel army 

and all tho fnrtififd ])lacos in the so-callod Confoderacy east of the Mis- 



214 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVAI.RY. 

sissippi river, the utter and hopeless prostration of the rebel power, 
make it apparent that all further fighting on the part of Confederate 
soldiers within this military district must be from a spirit of pure malice 
and revenge, or for purposes of robbery and plunder, and not in any 
hope of accomplishing any public good to any State or government. 
Those who now continue to fight, after the liberal terms that have been 
offered, can only be regarded as guerrillas and murderers. There are 
some small parties of such men roving about West Tennessee, keeping 
the citizens in a state of excitement and alarm, and who claim, when 
captured, to be treated as prisoners of war. All such are notified that. 
if captured within the limits of the militai'y district, after the 25th inst. . 
they will not be treated as prisoners of war. but will be held for tibial as 
felons and common enemies of mankind. Persons found bearing arms 
without competent Federal authority will be subject to the provisions of 
this order. This order is not intended to discourage any from laying- 
down their arms and receiving the amnesty of the Pi-esident, but to de- 
clare that such as are in West Tennessee and do not do it. but continue 
in open hostility, shall not be exchanged or allowed to take the oath of 
amnesty after their capture, but shall be tried and punished in accord- 
ance with their deserts. 

By order of Major General C. C. Washburn. 

W. H. MORGAN. Major and A. A. G. 

It having become evident that the atrocious murder of Presi- 
dent Lincohi, and the attempted assassination of Secretary of 
State William H. Seward, was ' ' incited and concocted ' ' by 
Jefferson Davis and others, the following proclamation was 
issued by Vice President Andrew Johnson, now President of 
the United States : 

Headquarters District of West Tennessee, 

Memphis. Tennessee, May /)th. 1865. 
Proclamation. 

Whereas, it appears from evidence in the bureau of military justice 
that the atrocious murder of the late President. Abraham Lincoln, and 
the attempted assassination of the Hon. Wm. H. Seward. Secretary of 
State, was incited and concocted by and between Jeff Davis, late of 
Richmond, Va., and Jacob Thompson. Clement C. Clay. Beverly Tucker. 
(tOO. N. Sanders, W. C. Clea,ry, and others, rebels and traitors against 
the government of the United States, harbored in Canada : 

Now, therefore, to the event that justice may be done. I. Andrew 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 215 

Johnson, President of the United States, do offer for the arrest of the 
said persons, or either of them, within the limits of the United States. 
so that they can be brovight to trial, the following rewards : $100,000 
for the arrest of Jefferson Davis ; |25,000 for the arrest of Clement C. 
Clay; $25,000 for the arrest of Jacob Thompson, late of Mississippi: 
$25,000 for the arrest of Geo. N. Sanders ; 25,000 for the arrest of Bev- 
erly Tucker ; and $10,000 for the arrest of Wm. A. Cleary, late clei-k 
of Clement C. Clay. 

The Provost Marshal General of the United States is directed to 
cause a description of said persons with notices of the above rewards to 
be published. 

In testimony whereof. I have hereunto set my hand and caused the 
seal of the United States to be affixed. 

Done at the City of Washington, the 2d day of May, in the year of 
our Lord 1865, and of the Independence of the United States of America 
the 89th. 

By the President. ANDREW JOHNSON. 

Wm. Hunter, Acting Secretary of State. 

Official : W. H. Morgan, Major and A. A. (i. 

• 

On May 10th Jefferson Davi.s was taken prisoner, at Irwins- 
ville, Georgia, by the First Wisconsin and Fourth Michioan 
Cavahy Regiments. Davis was taken prisoner- while attempt- 
ing to escape, disguised in female apparel, from his much 
lioasted Southern Confederacy. Conceived in sin and iniquity, 
the arrest of the leader in disguise and shame was but the ap- 
))ropriate finale of the most monstrous and wicked attempt to 
throttle the liberties of a people and crush the national life of 
the best government God ever ^ ouchsafed to man. 

May 15th. Brigadier General R. S. Roberts was assigned 
to duty in connuand of the cavalry division. Bi'igadiei- General 
Osband having l)een relieved. 

May 22d. That portion of the regiment which rcMuaincd at 
Memphis was now ordered to Colliersville. The troops remained 
at this place until June 14th. the regiment being in command 
of Major John McDeiinotl. 



-21Q HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

The capture of Richmond and the surrender of the armies of 
the so-called Confederacy was received by our soldiers with 
much pleasure and gratification, and a joyful anticipation of a 
speedy muster out and a return to home and friends were pleas- 
ingly indulged in. While anticipating this speedy return to 
civil life, an order was received from Lieutenant General Grant 
ordering the command to Texas. This was a sore disappoint- 
ment to the troops, and the order was received with outspoken 
dissatisfaction. When it became known to the people of the 
district that we were to l)e withdrawn from among them, a pe- 
tition signed by more than fifteen hundred of the inhabitants 
was presented to the commanding General, asking that we be 
retained in the District. The order, however, was not counter- 
manded, and as ' ' it is the first duty of a soldier to obey orders, '' 
in sore disappointment, on June 16th, the regiment, with the 
Fifth and Twelfth Illinois, Second Wisconsin and Seventh In- 
diana Cavalry Regiments, commenced embarking on transports 
at Memphis, under the supervision of Lieutenant Colonel Mc- 
Queen, for Alexandria, Louisiana. Companies F, G, and a 
portion of H. left aliout 2.30 a. m. of the 16th on board the 
steamer Lenora, Captain Charles Dustin, Company F, in com- 
mand. Another portion of the regiment left about noon of the 
16th, on board of the steamer Hillman, the writer l)eing with 
this portion. We left Helena on the morning of the ITtli, and 
when near Napoleon the boat ran on a sandbar and remained 
there until four p. m. of the ISth. After getting free from the 
sandbar we remained at the bank of the river during the night. 
Here we met the steamer Autocrat, one of our transports. 

June 19th. Left this morning, and returned to mouth of 
White river. 

June 20th. Arrived at Vicksburg at nine a. m. The Lenora 
hmded here on the iTth. At this place the steamer Laurel 
Hill relieved the Autocrat of the Twelfth Illinois Cavalry . 

June 21st. Arrived at Natchez, and at the mouth of tlie 
Red river on the 25th. Remained at Wilson's Landing", a 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 217 

place about tliirty miles from Alexantlria, durin<j^ the night, and 
arrived at Alexandria June 23d at 7.30 a. m. The other trans- 
ports arrived afterward. The Lenora having met with an acci- 
dent at the mouth of Red river, the troops were obliged to 
debark at the landing on the Louisiana side of the river and re- 
mained there until July 11th, rations in the meantime having 
l>een sent from Alexandria, Louisiana. 

On July 11th they left Red River Landing, and arrivcMJ at 
Alexandria at twelve midnight of the 12th. 

Major General G. A. Custer having assumed command of 
the troops at Alexandria on June 23d, announced in general 
orders nmnber one the names of the members of his staff. 

The regiment (including the other regiments associated with 

it ) were about to undergo an ordeal which never fell to the lot 

of any other body of men during the rebellion. This regiment, 

which had proved its prowess on every battlefield ; had received 

flattering commendations fi*om Generals Schotield, Herron. 

Blunt, Rosecrans, Davidson, Steele, Carr. and in fact from every 

rommander with whom it had served ; had been reported as the 

tint'st regiment of cavalry in physique and soldierly bearing in 

the volunteer service by all inspectors of cavalry, and reported 

;it the Cavalry Bureau at Washington as being the second best 

cavalry regiment in the United States service, (the l)est being 

one of the regular United States regiments) ; this regiment. 

after four years of faithful, hard and active service, enduring 

hardship^ and privations, engaged in a most dangerous and dis- 

agreealde guerrilla warfare during its early service, taking more 

than 7,000 prisoners and killing and wounding more than 1.000 

men during a period of tifteen months of that service— with 

this most honorable record, an inscrutable Providence decreed 

t hat it should l)e put to a crucial test as to its patient forbear- 

an<'e and endurance, when subjected to abuse, wanton neglect. 

base slanders and atrocicms outrages by one invest«^d with 

•' brief but misplaced authority.'' 

Philij) E. Erancis. now residing at Cedar Rapids. Iowa, a 
28 



218 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

member of Company B, who was present during this unfortu- 
nate period, writes : ' ^ We had gone through the war ; had 
camped in Missouri with a foot of snow on the ground ; had 
lain down in the mud in Arkansas at night to find ourselves 
frozen to the earth in the morning ; we had wrestled with ver- 
min in Southern trenches, and doubled up on the discomforts 
of cold and the pangs of hunger — but, until after the war 
had closed and we entered Custer's division, the real hardships 
of camp life had never stared us in our faces. ' ' A most truth- 
ful narration of the indignities and outrages to which the regi- 
ment was subjected, of its trials and sufferings, and of the 
incompetency and inhumanity of the commanding General, is 
published in the report of the Adjutant General of the State of 
Iowa for the year 1867, page 507 et sequitur^ written by Lieu- 
tenant Colonel A. G. McQueen, a copy of which is inserted on 
subsequent pages in order that justice may be done the brave 
old regiment, and that this reign of inhumanity shall become a 
matter of record upon these pages. Lieutenant Colonel Mc- 
Queen was most faithful in endeavoring to mitigate this most 
unhappy condition of affairs, and every member of the regi- 
ment present at that time is under obligations to him for his 
exertions in their behalf. 

Copies of two orders issued by Major General Custer, special 
order No. 2 and general order No. 15, are here inserted as ex- 
amples of the character and tenor of his orders, as also to a 
more complete understanding of this matter. They were as 
follows : 

Headquarters Cavalry, 
Alexandria. Louisiana. June 24tli. 186/). 
(tEneral Orders No. 2. 

Numerous complaints having reached these headquarters of depre- 
dations having- been committed by persons belonging to this command, 
all officers and soldiers are hereby urged to use every exertion to pre- 
vent the committal of acts of lawlessness, which, if permitted to pass 
unpunished, will bring discredit upon the command. Now that the 
war is virtually ended, the rebellion put down, and peace about to be 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 21V» 

restored to our entire country, let not the lustre of the last four years be 
dimmed by a single act of misconduct towards the persons or property 
of those with whom we may be brought iu contact. In future, and par- 
ticularly on the march, the utmost care will be exercised to save the 
inhabitants of the country in which we may be located from any molest- 
ation whatever. 

As supplies can be obtained from the supply train when needed, 
there will be no necessity for foraging- upon the country. 

No foraging parties will be sent out from this command without writ- 
ten permission from these headquarters, and then only to obtain fresh 
beef and grain, for which payment will be made by the chiefs of the 
proper departments at these headquarters. 

Every violation of this order will receive prompt and severe punish- 
ment. Owing to the delays of court martials, and their impracticability 
when the command is unsettled, it is hereby ordered that any enlisted 
man violating the above order, or committing depredations upon the 
persons or property of citizens, will have his head shaved, and in addi- 
tion will receive twenty-five lashes upon his back, xvell laid on. This 
punishment will, in all cases, be administered under the supervision of 
the Provost Marshal of the command, who is charged with the execu- 
tion of this order so far as it in his power. 

Any officer failing to adopt proper steps to restrain his men from 
violating this order, or who fails to report to these headquarters the 
names of those violating it, will be at once arrested and his name for- 
warded to the proper authority for i)rompt and dishonorable dismissal 
fi'om the army. The commanding General is well aware that the niim- 
ber of those upon whom the enforcement of this order will be necessary 
will be small, and he trusts that in no case will it be necessary. 

He is also confident that those who entered the service from pi'opei' 
motives will see the necessity for a strict com])liarnce with the require- 
ments of this order. 

(Citizens of the surrounding country are earnestly invited to furnish 
these headquarters any information they may acquire which will lead 
to the discovery of any parties violating the foregoing order. 

Regimental commanders will publish this order to every man in their 
(•<unmands. 

By command of Major (General Custer. 

(Signed,) J. L. GREENE. Assl. Adjt. General. 

Official : L. W. Baknhart. Asst. Adjt. General. 



1 



220 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

Headquarters Second Cavalry Division, 

Military Division of the Gulf. 

August 7th. 1865. 
(Jeneral Orders No. 15. 

The command being about to march through a section of country 
which has been beyond the control of the Government for four years, 
and it being desirable to cultivate the most friendly feelings with the in- 
habitants thereof, all belonging to this command will be required to ex- 
ercise the most scrupulous regard for the rights and property of those 
with whom they may be brought in contact. The following rules will 
be strictly observed. 

I. The command will habitually 7nove in columns of fours, omitting 
the usual interval between companies, squadrons and regiments. 

II. The commanding officer of the brigade which moves in the rear 
will detail for that day a guard of one hvmdred (100) men to escort the 
train. He will also cause the pioneers of one regiment to march at the 
head of the train, reporting to the quartermaster in charge. 

III. One-half of the escort of the train will march in advance, the 
other half in rear of the train. The officer commanding will regulate 
his gait by that of the train, and will be held responsible for the good 
conduct of his men. He will also arrest and bring to these head- 
quarters any person belonging to the train whom he detects violating 
any paragraph of this order. 

IV. Brigade commanders will cause a detachment of their provost 
guard, undei" command of a commissioned officer, to march in the im- 
mediate rear of their brigades. It will be the duty of these officers to 
prevent men from falling out of the ranks or leaving the columns, ex- 
cept under orders. 

V. No enlisted man will be permitted to leave the ranks with his 
horse, except on duty or when accompanied by an officer. If upon 
duty, he must be furnished with written authority. A dispatch or re- 
ceipt for same will be deemed proper authority. If found absent from 
the column in violation of this order, any officer is authorized to seize 
his horse and equipments and appropriate them for the use of dis- 
mounted men of the command. Brigade commanders will instruct 
their officers in command of the detachment of provost guard, in rear 
of their brigade, to be particularly zealous in carrying out the require- 
ments of this paragraph. 

VI. If it becomes necessary for an enlisted man to leave the ranks 
to procure water, or attend to the wants of nature, he will be permitted 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 221 

to do so dismounted, leaving his horse to be held by the man on his 
rig-ht, or left, in the same set of fours. 

VII. The dismounted men of this command will be organized into a 
foot battalion, under command of Captain J. H. Elliott, Seventh Indiana 
Cavalry. Brigade commanders will designate, each, two efficient 
officers to take charge of the dismounted men of their commands, and 
will cause one non-commissioned officer, mounted fi-om each regiment, 
to report to the senior officer. 

The senior officer in charge of the dismounted men of each brigade 
will at once report to Captain J. H. pjlliott for instructions. The dis- 
mounted men will be required to carry their carbines, blankets and 
haversacks, and will march immediately in the rear of the rear brigade. 
The officer commanding the foot battalion will take possession of all 
horses and equipments found absent from the colvimn in violation of 
paragraph five of this order, and mount with men. taking from the 
most deserving, in the foot battalion. The men thus dismounted will 
be placed in the foot battalion. The mounted non-commissioned officers 
attached to the foot battalion will be employed in arresting men found 
absent from the column without authority. 

VIII. Any enlisted man detected in any act of lawlessness will in 
addition to other punishment be deprived of his horse and be required 
to march on foot. 

IX. The commanding officer of the foot battalion, when having op- 
portunity to mount men of his command, will select those whose con- 
duct upon the march has been most commendable. 

X. No foraging parties will be permitted. All needed supplies 
<'an be obtained from the s\ipply train which will accompany the 
command. 

XI. Any officer sending an enlisted man from the column without 
furnishing him with the required written authority will, in case such 
enlisted man is deprived of his horse thereby, be required to mount 
him upon the korfte ridden by himself. Such horse is the property of the 
''onrnunnt. 

XII. All led animals and officers' servants will march in rear of the 
rear brigade. An officer from each brigade will be placed in permanent 
charge of this train. A non-(!ommissioned officer from each regiment 
will be detailed to take charge of that portion of the train belonging 
to his own regiment. 

XIII. In procuring fuel, no interference with fences or prepared 
fencing material will be allowed. 



222 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

XIV. The officer second in command of each regiment will march 
in rear of his regiment. The officer second in command of each 
squadron will march in rear of his squadron. 

XV. The Provost Marshal of the division will each day inspect the 
column upon the march and see that paragraphs five, twelve and four- 
teen are complied with. 

By command of Major General Custer. 

L. W. BARNHART, Assistant Adjutant Oeneral. 

The first portion of the troops assigned to General Custer 
arrived at Alexandria at 7.30 a. m. of the 23d, and on the 
niornin» of the 24th special order No. 2 was promulgated. No 
acts of lawlessness had been committed, and no uusoldierly con- 
duct had taken place, and the issuance of the order was a slan- 
der by implication upon the troops by its commanding officer. 

The first, or special order No. 2, is inserted to show the law- 
less inhumanity of the man issuing it. Flogging in the army 
had been aboKshed by act of Congress, approved August 5th, 
1861, yet he, in defiance of law and humanity, not only ordered 
whipping, but made the ' ' refinement of cruelty ' ' greater by 
supplementing his order with the shaving of heads. This order 
was to be executed without trial by court martial ; simply by 
order as it might please this slanderous '^ hero of the lash." 

The second, general ortler No. 15, is inserted to show the in- 
competency and utter want of knowledge of the manner of con- 
ducting a march of a large body of cavalry in midsumm^-. 
The first section of the order is sufficient to condemn it, and to 
show, as the "boys'' expressed it, what a '^d — d fool order'" 
it was. It reads as follows : ''The command will habitually 
move in columns of fours, omitting the usual intervals between 
companies, squadrons and regiments" — packed together like 
sardines in a box — this was the order for marching, under a 
broiling Louisiana August sun, the roads dusty and "• dry as 
powder," with no armed enemy in the entire Department of 
the Gulf. The entire order is a military curiosity and a dis- 
grace to its author. 

Referring to Lieutenant Colonel McQueen's report in above 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 223 

mentioned Adjutant General's report, page 534, he says : ''1 
have also filled positions on the staffs of general oflScers, from 
Assistant Adjutant General to Chief of Staff, in cases of tem- 
porary necessity, and acted as Senior Inspector General of Cav- 
alry for the Military Division of West Mississippi for eight 
months, and I can say that I never saw troops so badly man- 
aged and provided for, both in regard to outfit and rations, as 
this division of cavalry was while it remained under the com- 
mand of General Custer, or such a lack of common sense in 
orders and in the exercise of discipline, as was displayed by its 
commander." Lieutenant Colonel McQueen was breveted Col- 
onel and Brigadier General United States Volunteers for bravery 
and for long and meritorious services as a cavalry officer. 

The command remained at Alexandria until August 8th. 
preparing for a march to Texas. We were encamped in an un- 
healthy, malarial section of country, and much sickness ensued. 
Diarrhoea, dysentery, with mahirial fever, assumed severe 
forms. Requisitions for medical supplies were made at various 
times, but the necessary required amount could not be obtained. 
This, with the detestable condition of the rations issued, and 
the impurity of the water supply, daily diminished the effective 
force of the command. Estimates for clothing, camp and gar- 
rison equipage were frequently made, but with little or no 
result. 

On July 8th horses were received for the regiment. On the 
28th the entire command was ordered out to witness the execution 
of two soldiers — First Sergeant J. J. Lancaster, Company L. 
Second Wisconsin Cavalry, and private William A. Wilson. 
Company A, Fifth Illinois Cavah-y, they having been sentenced 
by military court martial to be shot to death — Sergeant Lan- 
caster for inciting mutiny in his regiment, and private Wilson 
for desertion and theft. After all preparations had been made 
for the execution. Sergeant Lancaster was released and Wilson 
shot to death by the firing squad. Lancaster's sentence was 
commuted to imprisonment for life on the Dry Tortugas Island. 



224 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY, 

It is said that on his arrival at New Orleans, on his way to the 
islands, he received a pardon from the President of the United 
States. From the best information obtainable, Lancaster's 
crime was simply an over-earnestness in the drawing up and 
circulation of a petition in his regiment, requesting Colonel N. 
H. Dale to resign, in order that the Lieutenant Colonel might 
receive promotion as Colonel before the muster out of the regi- 
ment. Many of the nieml)ers of the regiment signed the peti- 
tion. Lancaster was a young man of good character, and 
esteemed by his comrades. There was an unhappy feeling ex- 
isting among the officers of that regiment, and this event but 
increased the discord, and a more determined hatred among the 
troops toward the commanding General was engendered. 

On August 4th, the command being about to march for 
Texas, a Board of Surgeons was organized, consisting of Sur- 
geon Charles H. Lothrop, First Iowa Cavalry, President, 
Surgeon Asa Morgan, Twelfth Illinois Cavalry, and Assistant 
Surgeon Charles B. Randall, Fifth Illinois Cavalry, Secretary, 
in accordance with the following order, for the officers and en- 
listed men. *' with a view to determine those who are unlit and 
unable to endure the march about to be made by the com- 
mand : ' ' 

Headquarters Cavalry. 
Alexandria, Louisiana, August 8d. 1865. 
Special Order No. 35. (Extract.) 

A board of the following named medical officers is hereby ordered to 
convene at the office of the Surgeon-in-Chief of the cavalry, at nine 
o'clock A. M., August 4th, 1865. for the examination of such officers 
and enlisted men as may be regularly brought before it by the Regi- 
mental Surgeons, and none others, with a view to determine those who 
are unfit and unable to undergo the march about to be made by the 
command. The report of the board will be made to the Surgeon-in- 
Chief, and in accordance to instructions to be given by him : 

Surgeon C. H. Lothrop, First Iowa Cavalry. 

Surgeon A. Morgan, Twelfth Illinois Cavalry. 

Assistant Surgeon Chas. B. Randall, Fifth Illinois Cavalry. 
By command of Major General Custer. 
C. 0. First Iowa Cavalry. J. L. GREENE. A. A. G. 




Mainr LE¥I CHi^SE 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 225 

The l)oard held daily .sessions until the evening of the 7th. 
On Aiioust 5th the followins: general order No. 14, giving a 
name to the organization and forming the division into brigades, 
was issued. The First Iowa and Second Wisconsin Cavalry 
Regiments composed the Second Brigade, Colonel William. 
Thompson commanding : 

Headquarters Second Division Cavalry, 

Military Division of the Gulf. 

August 5th. 1865. 
General Orders No. 14. 

Hereafter this command will be known and designated as the Second 

Division Cavalry. Military Division of the Gulf, and will be composed 

as follows : 

I. The First Brigade as organized by special order No. 14 from 
these headquarters. 

II. The Second Brigade comprising the following regiments : First 
Iowa Cavalry. Lieutenant Colonel A. G. McQueen commanding ; Sec- 
ond Wisconsin Cavalry. Lieutenant Colonel N. H. Dale commanding. 

III. Colonel Wm. Thompson. First Iowa Cavalry, will assume com- 
mand of the Second Brigade. 

By command of Major General Custer. 
C. O. First Iowa Cavalry, J. L. GREENE, A. A. O. 

The organization of Colonel Thompson's staff was as follows : 
Lieutenant and Adjutant H. L. Morrill. A. A. Adjutant Gen- 
eral ; W. W. Fluke. Lieutenant and Quartermaster, A. A. 
Q. M. ; Robert T. Newell, Lieutenant and Commissary, A. A. 
G. S. ; and Captain A. W. Hosford, Company G, Provost 
Marshal — all of the First Iowa Cavalry. M. P. Hansen, Sur- 
geon Second Wisconsin Cavalry. Senior Surgeon of the brigade. 

The regiment was in command of Lieutenant Colonel Mc- 
Queen ; Lieutenant Charles W. W. Dow. Company F. Acting 
Adjutant ; Lieutenant George McDoual. Company M. Acting 
H. Q. M. : and Lieutenant W. W. Carpenter, Company K, 
Acting R. C. S. 

On August (Jth. the supply of (juininc having become ex- 
hausted, and being unable to obtain any from the medical de- 

p.-irtmcnt of the command. Surgeon Lothrop purchased with 
29 



^26 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

the hospital fund of the reofiment twenty-two ounces, at five 
dollars per ounce, of Quartermaster Fluke, at a total cost of 
one hundred and ten dollars, as the record of the purchase of 
medicines at various times now in the possession of Surgeon L. 
show. Although the hospital fund was created for the purpose 
of purchasing delicacies and such articles of food for the sick 
as are not furnished by the commissaries of subsistence, it 
was necessary to divert this money from its legitimate purposes 
at this time, (other amounts were expended for the same pui-- 
pose afterward, ) in oi-der that the regiment should be provided 
with a supply of this indispensable article of medicine, in its 
march through this notoriously malarial region of the South ; 
made necessary because of the criminal negligence or ignorance 
of the commanding General in such matters. 

On Mcmday. August 7th, in accordance with the following 
order, Surgeon Lothrop assumed charge of the hospital trans- 
port Stai'light. which had been ordered to Alexandria for the 
purpose of conveying the siek and disabled of the division to 
the Sedgewick (xeneral Hospital at New Orleans : 

Headquarters Second Cavalry Division. 

Military Division of the Gulf. 

Aug-ust 7th. 1865. 
Special Orders No. 87. (Extract.) 

Vni. Surgeon C-harles H. Lothrop, First Iowa Cavalry, is hereby 

ordered to proceed to Houston. Texas, via New Orleans, Louisiana. 

with the following- named officers and enlisted men of this command : 

Surg-eon l.,othrop will be held strictly responsible that none others 
than those named in this order accompany him. 
By command of Major General Custer. 

L. W. BARNHART. Assistant Adjutant Gem'ral. 

Hospital Steward Barron S. Edwards, of the reghuent. was 
ordered to report to Surgeon Lothrop for dut3^ Assistant Sur- 
geon rJames Hervey was now in charge of the hospital depart- 
ment of the regiment, with Geo. Delf elder as Hospital Steward. 
At this time (August 7th) general order No. 15 was promul- 



HISTORY OF FIKST IOWA CAVALKY. 227 

gatetl, a copy of which has been inserted upon preceding pages. 
On the evening of the 7th the sick and disabled of tiie division, 
numbering 268 men and five officers, were ordered on board the 
hospital transport, and at two o'clock on the morning of the 
8th left Alexandria for New Orleans, arriving at the latter 
place at four a. m. of the 9th. It will be noticed that the time 
reciuired to reach New Orleans from Alexandria was twenty-six 
hours. There could have been no valid excuse for the criminal 
neglect in supplying that cavalry division promptly with all 
needed supplies. No explanation, to the writer's knowledge, 
lias ever been given as to this matter. 

The cavjdry division left Alexandria on the morning of the 
Sth, and marched, in conformity with general order No. 15, by 
the way of Hickman's Ferry on the Saline river, riasper, Liv- 
ingston, vSwartout, Danville and other towns, to Hempstead, 
Texas, a distance of about '^-K* inih's. arriving at that j)lace 
August 2()th, "with rations exhausted, many of the soldiers 
barefooted, almost naked and without l)lankets, and with no 
supi)lies ))i-()vided."" 

Angus! l-Jth. wiiiic on tlie uiart'h, the Lieutenant in chargt' 
of ibe anil)ulance coi'jis was relieved for •• gross neglect of 
(hity."' and I^ieutenant. H. S. Heljeriing, ('()m[)any B. First 
Iowa ("a\ ab'y. was ordered "detached as ambulance officer of 
I lie division."" 

( )n Augiisl •27tli. one day after the an'i\al of llie conunand 
at Hemj)st(!ad, the sup))ly of (luininc again Itecoming exhausted, 
four ounces was purchased of Quartermaster Muke at a cost of 
eighteen dollais. While on the mai'clr complaints and protests 
were fre(juently made to the commanding (ieneral as to the 
treatment and suti'ering of the men, luit no attention was given 
to the matter. 

I'hese abuses bad liecome so unbearalde that at one time 
Colonel Thompson, commanding the Second Ib'igade, entered 
a most earnest protest, saying among other things that neither 
1h' nor hi-; bri<rade would farther submit to these outraijes, (see 



228 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

Lieutenant Colonel McQueen's report. ) A member of Com- 
pany M, in a communication to the Lyons (Iowa) Mirror, at 
this time, writes : ' ' The march from Alexandria to this place 
(Hempstead) was the most severe and uncomfortable, and 
attended with more suffering than any the regiment has experi- 
enced during its four years' service in the field. ' ' 

On August 2Sth, writes Lieutenant Colonel McQueen, the 
Chief Commissary procured from some place and issued five 
days' rations of hogs' jowls and hard bread. The jowls had 
about one-fifth of the hair still on them, and out of which tusks 
were taken measuring seven and one-half inches in length, and 
apparently three inches must have l)een worn off' their points 
by long usage — a sample of which was sent to and no doubt 
can be seen with the Historical 8ociety of the State of Wis- 
consin. 

Soldiers who had money pui'chased supplies from the coun- 
try in violation of orders, but those who had no money were 
compelled to rob their emaciated horses of a }K)rtion of their 
stinted supply of corn, and by parching and t)oiling it man- 
aged to appease the pangs of hunger aiul sustain life for a jie- 
riod of fifteen days — the numerous appeals of regimental coni- 
man<le.rs for relief proving of no avail. ••The writer has 
personal knowledge of this condition of afi'airs. and was fre- 
quently present at this 'diet of worms.' " This ••mixed diet" 
continued until September 10th, when, after repeated appeals 
had been made, the following order for the inspection of rations 
was issued, and much of the filth was ordered to l)e destroyed : 

Head^i'akteks Second Division Cavalky. 

Military Division of the (tTlf. 

September 10th. 1«6.'). 
Special Okdek No. 4-s. (Extract.) 

II. Each regimental Siu-geon is ordered to inspect the rations issued 
to the men of this command whenever any part of it is of such inferior 
quality as to render it unfit for use. The regimental and brigade com- 
missaries will immediately supply the place of the defective portion by 
an issue of good quality. 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 229 

Regimental and brigade commanders will use every effort to supiily 
their men with good rations. 

By command of Major General Custer. 

Official : JACOB L. GREENE. Major and A. A. General. 

R. T. Newell. J J. and A. C. S. and A. A. A. O.. 

Commandimj Officer First Iowa Cavalry. 

On Aiigu.st 2yth Surgeon Lothrop and Hospital Steward Ed- 
wards joined the regiment hy the w^ay of Galveston and Hous- 
ton, Surgeon Lothrop having made a requisition for medical 
supplies l)efore leaving New Orleans, a portion of which was lost 
in transportation to the command. September 9th special or- 
der No. 19, called the " Drill and Grazing Order," was issued, 
(see Lieutenant Colonel McQueen's report, ) another monument 
to the supreme ignorance and stupidity of the conmianding 
(xeneral. On the same day (9th) the division was inspected by 
Brevet Lieutenant Colonel E. P. Volluni, Surgeon U. S. A.. 
Medical Director of the Department of Texas, and by Major 
Harrison, U. S. A.. Special Inspector of Cavalry. After in- 
spection, in the presence of a number of the officers of the 
division. Lieutenant Colonel Vollum said to Lieutenant Colonel 
McQueen. "You have the best regiment in the department." 
and Major Harrison corroborated the statement. This brave 
old regiment, notwithstanding all its sufferings, trials and 
abuses, heaped upon it l)y the commanding General. maintaine(i 
its noted reputation for military discipline and soldierly bearing. 
Proud of its position, and feeling that the State of Iowa should 
ev(rr be i)r()ud of her First Cavalry, sustained it in its trials, 
and its already bright escutcheon was made more effulgent by 
the decision of these distinterested and most competent Inspec- 
tors. At this place (Hem])stead) special order No. 2, known 
as the whipping and head shaving order, was first carried into 
effect. 

-Vt this time wormy hard bread and hogs" jowls were the 
principal articles of diet. Some l)eef cattle running at large 
on the prairie were killed in <lisobedience of orders to obtain 



230 HISTORY OF FIKST IOWA CAVALRY. 

food to appease the cravings of hunger of the half-starved men. 
A thorough search through the camp was made and portions of 
the interdicted property found in the camp of the Twelfth Illi- 
nois and Seventh Indiana Cavalry Regiments. The parties 
accused were whipped and their heads shaved, without trial, and 
no opportunity given for defense. N^one of the beef was found 
in the camp of the Second Brigade, composed of the First Iowa 
and Second Wisconsin Regiments, and the following letter from 
Major General Custer was ordered to be read by each company 
connnander of the lirigade to their respective companies : 

Headquakters Second Cavaxry Brigade. 

Second Cav. Div. Mil. Div. of the Gulf. 

September 4th. 1865. 
(tEneral Orders No. 5. 

The following letter from the Major General Commanding is pub- 
lished for the information of this command : 

• • Headquarters Second Division Cavalry, 

Mil. Div. of the Gulf, September 4th. 1865. 
■ • Col. Wm. Thompson, Comdg. Second Brigade : 

■ ■ For the past few days parties from this command have been com- 
mitting depredations upon the pei'sons and property of citizens of this 
neighborhood. Yesterday, without even the excuse of want, a painty of 
soldiers belonging to this division butchered a number of cattle belong- 
ing to Dr. Peebles, who is probably the most thorough Union man in 
the State, having been incarcerated in prison for nearly a year by the 
rebel authorities, owing to his strong Union sentiments, and afterward 
forced to leave the State to save his life from rebel mobs. The party 
referred to as having committed the depredations yesterday, beyond 
appropriating a portion to their own use, wantonly destroyed the greater 
portion of what they had stolen. To arrest and bring to punishment 
the guilty parties, a staff officer was sent from these headquartei'S this 
morning, one to each regiment in the command, with orders to make a 
thorough seaj'ch for the stolen pi'operty. The search and investigations 
hcive been completed, and while two regiments of the First Brigade 
(the Second Illinois and Seventh Indiana) were found in possession of 
large quantities of the stolen property, the regiments of your brigade 
are reported as being not only fully exonorated, but above the suspi- 
cion even of participating in the outrages referred to above, and I take 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 231 

pleasure in congratulating- you upon having a command the officei'S and 
men of which are so strictly honest and upright as to afford a shining 
example to other portions of this command. 

■ ••! am. Colonel, very respectfully yours. &c.. 

'■G. A. Custer. Major General Conidg." 

The Colonel commanding this brigade, having more than ordinary 
(H)nfidence in the honesty and good deportment of his command, feels 
confident that in no case as heretofore will any criminal blame be fast- 
ened upon his command. 

By order of Colonel Wra. Thomjjson. commanding brigade. 

Official : H. L. MORRILL, Lieut, and A. A. A. G. 

C. C. Kauffman. Lient. and Actg. Adjt. 1st Iowa Cav. 

Oil September litli, Horace C. Cure, Conipaii}' M, First 
Iowa Cavalry, an honest, faithful veteran, who had been de 
tailed as teamster in one of the division trains, was whipped 
(25 lashes) and his head shaved, in accordance with order No. 2. 
The following is a true copy of the order issued in his case : 

Headquarters Second Cavalry Division. 
September 14th. 186i"). 
Captain Davidson. Commanding Provost Guard : 

You will at once shave the head and lash G. Darr. Company I). 
Twelfth Illinois Cavalry, and H. Cure. First Iowa Cavalry, teamsters 
in Captain Lyons' train, and Gunsales of same train. * * * 

C. W. LEE. Provost Marshal. 

After obtaininir the following certiticate from Captain Da- 
vidson as to its being a true copy of the original order. Surgeon 
Lothrop enclosed the same with his report to Governor Stone 
of I<)\v;i. Following is a co})y of Captain Davidson's certificate : 

Headquarters Provost (ii'ARD. 
Camp near Hempstead. Texas. September KJth. 1HH5. 
I certify that the above is a true copy of the original order now in 
my possession. (GEORGE B. DAVIDSON, 

Captaiyi Commanding Provost Guard. 

2d Cav. Div Mil. Div. Gulf. 

Kollowing is a copy of tlic letter received from Governor 
Si(»iic acknowledging reeei])t of letter and order: 



232 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

State of Iowa, Executive Department, 

DesMoines, October 19th, 1865. 
Dr. C. H. Lothrop, Stirgeon 1st Iowa Cavalry : 

Sir — Your letter of September loth, 1865, in reference to the punish- 
ment of Horace Cure, and enclosing copies of orders relating thei-eto. 
is received, and in answer thereto I have the honor to reply that Gov- 
ernor Stone has been in receipt of information to the effect that General 
Custer has issued such an order. He has already communicated with 
the War Department, asking that the matter be searchingly investi- 
gated, and that the First Iowa be mustered out, if its services can pos- 
sibly be spared. He is informed that the subject has been referred to 
Major General Shei'idan. 

The Governor is obliged tp you for the definite information you have 
furnished, which will enable him the better to protect this Iowa regi- 
ment. Yours truly, 

GEO. J. NORTH. Mil. Sec. 

Private Cure was arrested on suspicion only that he knew 
the parties who had killed a beef running on the prairie and 
brought it in to the train : and because he would not or could 
not give information as to who the parties were he was punished, 
not because he assisted in killing the beef, but because he did 
not know who killed it ; and for the want of this knowledge 
his head was shaved and he received twenty-five lashes, by com- 
mand of the author of the slave driver order. The effect pro- 
duced upon the regiment by thus punishing one of its members 
was an intense but suppressed excitement, and the men gath- 
ered in squads with carbines in hand, determined to avenge the 
ignominious insult thus offered to the old regiment. They be- 
lieved that longer forbearance was not a virtue ; that the 
proud State of Iowa would not request her sons to tamely sub- 
mit to such outrages ; and Lieutenant Colonel McQueen, 
although a strict Presbyterian, forgot himself to a slight de- 
gree — for, after calling the men together, and at the termina- 
tion of a pacific speech counselling moderation and forbearance, 
and requesting that no unlawful act should be committed on 
the part of the regiment, said : ^ ' Let Custer whip Cure if 
he dares. He will then be the aggressor. But if General Cus- 




LiBut, W, P, ALLEN 



COMPANY C. 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 233 

ter attempts again to lay violent hands on a First Iowa soldier, 
I ^ ill here say his hide will not hold corn, by God ! ' ' 

It was well for General Custer that this cruel act was never 
repeated. Reports were made to Governor Stone by Lieuten- 
ant Colonel McQueen, and to the Governor of Wisconsin by 
Colonel N. H. Dale. The War Department referred the mat- 
ter to Major General Sheridan, commanding the Department of 
the Gulf, asking for a report to show cause for this ' ' cruel and 
inhuman treatment."" 

Governor Stone presented the matter, with papers and evi- 
dence in the case, before the Iowa State Legislature, and the 
following report was made and resolutions passed in reference 
to the matter : 

Mr. Speaker : — Youi- committee to whom was referred the commu- 
nication of the Governor and accompanying documents in relation to 
outrages alleged to have been committed upon the First Iowa Cavalry 
by General Custer, have had the same under consideration, and beg 
leave to report : 

That having been connected with that regiment for three years of 
the war, they are well acquainted with its services, history and charac- 
ter, which, if published to the world, would reflect no little credit upon 
the State of Iowa, as have all the soldiers from this young and patriotic 
State. The committee are satisfied, from the evidence before them. 
that members of that regiment have unjustly received from the hands 
of Major General Custer, while under his command, such ill-treatment 
as no other Iowa soldiers have ever been called upon to endiu-e : that 
such treatment or punishment was dishonorable to the General inflicting 
it, degrading to the name of American soldier, unworthy of the cause 
in which they were engaged, and in direct and flagrant violation of the 
laws of Congress and the rules and articles of war. 

The regiment was one of the foremost in answering their country's 
call to put down the rebellion, having enlisted in April and May. 1861. 
and so eager were they to take an honorable part in their country's ser- 
vice, and fearing that Iowa's quota of troops w"ouId not be large enough 
to admit a cavalry regiment from this State, they immediately, after 
their organization, tendered their services direct to the Secretary of 
War, and they were accepted by him as an independent regiment. Ev- 
ery enlisted man furnished his own horse and equipments, and contin- 
30 




234 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

ued to do so until July, 1864, when they were compelled to sell them. 
Early in 1864 nearly six hundred of them re-enlisted for another term 
of three years. They served in all the campaigns of Missouri and 
Arkansas, and were honorably mentioned in genei'al orders by Generals 
Rosecrans, Davidson, Herron, Blunt, Dana. Reynolds, and others, and 
even by General Custer himself, as will appear hereafter in this report. 

This regiment was first under the command of Major General Custer 
on the day of its arrival from Memphis, Tennessee, at Alexandria, 
Louisiana, which was on the 23d day of June, 1865 ; on the following 
day, viz., the 24th day of June, 1865, General Custer issued his special 
oi'der No. 2, one clause of which is in these words, viz : 

■ ' Every violation of this order will receive prompt and severe pun- 
ishment. Owing to the delay of courts martial, and their impractica- 
bility when the command is unsettled, it is hereby ordered that any en- 
listed man of this command violating the above order, or committing 
depredations upon the persons or property of citizens, will have his 
head shaved, and in addition will receive twenty-five lashes upon his 
back, well laid on.'' 

Another clause of this order is as follows : • ' Citizens of the sur- 
rounding country are earnestly invited to furnish to these headquarters 
any information they may acquire which will lead to the discovery of 
any parties violating the foregoing order.'' 

Your committee beg leave to state that the above order, aside from 
its brutality and inhumanity, is in direct violation of a law of Congress, 
approved August 5th, 1861 ; while the latter part of it is, as every offi- 
cer and soldier knows, too readily responded to by rebel citizens eager 
to bring Union soldiers into discredit and disgrace. On the 14th of 
September, 1865, General Custer, through his Provost Marshal, issued 
the following order: --To Captain Davidson, commanding provost 
guard : You will at once shave the heads and lash G. Darr, Company D, 
Twelfth Illinois Cavalry, and H. Cure, Plrst Iowa Cavalry, teamsters 
in Captain Lyon's train, and Gunsales of same train," which was ac- 
cordingly executed on the same day. without subjecting the parties to 
any trial whatever, and in the absence of any charges preferred 
against them. 

The Second Wisconsin Cavalry, the Fifth and Twelfth Illinois CaV- 
alry. and the Seventh Indiana Cavalry, were also with the First Iowa 
Cavalry, under General Custer, all of whom were alike subject to the 
punishments and severities inflicted by the provisions of said order, 
and the many other indignities heaped upon both officers and men of 



i 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVA1.RY. 235 

that command, (to which special reference is not made by your com- 
mittee. ) were of daily occurrence — insomuch that many soldiers de- 
serted what they termed a reign of terror, even though the war had 
ended, and a prospect of a speedy return to their homes and firesides. 
and an honorable discharge from their long and active service, were 
about to be soon realized. 

The existence of these outrages was finally brought to the notice of 
the Governors of the several States of Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois and 
Iowa, all of whom notified the War Department in behalf of their re- 
spective regiments. Governor Stone sent repeated cummunications to 
the Secretary of War upon the subject, and demanded that the order 
referred to should be rescinded and the First Iowa mustered out. The 
subject was referred to Major General Sheridan, commanding the Mili- 
tary Division of the Gulf, with instructions to investigate, and if any 
ground of complaint existed, to redress it and muster out the regiment 
if he thought it should be done. The matter was referred by him to 
(General Custer, with directions that the order referred to should be 
immediately rescinded, which was complied with, and ordered that an 
investigation should be had ; but your committee are of the opinion 
that no such an investigation was ever had. General Sheridan, in a 
communication to the Secretary of War, while he was favorable to 
strict discipline and severe punishments, held whipping and shaving 
heads in such horror as to express the belief that General Custer had 
never whipped men — although the latter, in an official communication 
afterwards, acknowledged that he had done so in the case of the per- 
sons named. 

General Custer, in justification of his barbarous treatment, and of 
his conduct in suspending courts martial and substituting unlawful and 
imwari-antable orders, denounced the character of his entire command 
of five regiments — including field and line officers — as ' ' infamous and 
mutinous." In contrast with these unwarrantable and sweeping 
charges, made against a regiment of soldiers whose conduct and bear- 
ing had been hitherto irreproachable, your committee beg leave to re- 
fer to the inspection reports at Memphis, Tennessee, made by Lieuten- 
ant S. M. Lake. Acting Assistant Inspector General, Captain E. J. 
Myers. Acting Assistant Inspector General, nnd Captain R. M. Rey- 
nolds, Acting Assistant Inspector General, foi- the months of March. 
April. May and June. 1865, and a report by Inspector General C. S. 
Bowman, U. S. A., Special Inspector of Cavalry, in the month of July. 
1H65, at Alexandria. Louisiana, [also by Brevet Lieutenant Colonel 



236 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

Vollum. Surgeon, U. S. A., and Medical Director of the Department of 
Texas, and Major Harrison, Special Inspector of Cavalry, at Hemp- 
stead, Texas, September 9th, 1865. — Lothrop,] from which it will ap- 
pear that the First Iowa Cavalry were never in better discipline, and 
were specially mentioned in such reports as being the finest regiment 
of cavalry, and the best officered, in the service. Furthermore, General 
Custer himself, in his official report to Major General Sheridan, made 
on the 26th of October, 1865, and while in command of the same troops 
whose character he had defamed so recently, made this remarkable ad- 
mission : "I am happy to say, that to-day no better behaved regi- 
ments are included in the volunteer force than those now composing 
my command." 

Without entering upon a detailed history of the many other indig- 
nities and injuries received at the hands of their commanding General, 
by both officers and men of this regiment, your committee desire to add. 
in conclusion, that the many efforts made by Governor Stone, Secretary 
Harlan. Hon. J. W. Grimes, Hon. James F. Wilson and many others, 
in behalf of this regiment, to secure their muster out of service, or 
their removal from the command of General Custer, proved unavailing 
until very recently, and it is understood that they are mustered out of 
service, and will probably be home about the first of April, when they 
shall have nearly completed a term of five years' service for the preser- 
vation of their country's name and honor. We respectfully submit the 
annexed resolution, and recommend its adoption. 

T. A. Bereman, 
Henry L. Dashiell. 
S. A. Flanders. 
Whei'eas, By an act of Congress appi-oved August 5th, 1861, passed 
from a consideration of the fact that the perilous condition of the coun- 
try was inducing many thousands of its best and most patriotic citizens 
to enlist in the ranks, the barbarous and inhuman punishment of flog- 
ging was prohibited throughout the armies of the United States ; 

And Whereas, By special order No. 2, dated at Headquarters Cav- 
alry Division, Alexandria, Louisiana, June 24th, 1865, issued by com- 
mand of Major General Custer, authority was given to Provost Mar- 
shals to cause American soldiers to be punished by ' ' twenty-five lashes 
on the back, well laid on." without their being allowed the formality of 
a trial by court martial : 

And Whereas, On the 14th day of September, 1865, two American sol- 
diers, one of whom was a member of Fii'st Regiment Iowa Veteran 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 237 

Cavalry, were punished by flogging, by parties acting under authority 
of said order : Therefore, 

Be it Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of Iowa, That, 
while we recognize the necessity of strict enforcement of military dis- 
cipline, and the propriety of punishing every violation thereof in such 
manner as the laws of Congress and articles of war ma-y direct, we 
also consider the infliction of the cruel and barbarous punishment re- 
ferred to could only have a tendency to render soldiers discontented 
and insubordinate, and that by this wanton and atrocious outrage, the 
majesty of the law has been contemned, the honor of the State has 
been insulted, and the rights of American soldiers trampled under foot, 
and we demand that the author thereof be held to strict accountability, 
and. after proper trial, be subjected to condign punishment, that future 
tyrants may take warning from the example. 

General Custer, in order to vindicate himself in his cruelty, 
denounced the character of his entire command, both officers 
and soldiers, as ' ' infamous, ' ' and that they were ' ' a terror to 
the inhabitants of the locality, and a disgrace to this or any 
other service." 

Notwithstanding General Cu.ster's most untruthful and infa- 
mous report, by command of Major General Sheridan all ob- 
noxious orders were soon afterward revoked. It is but just to 
say that Lieutenant Colonel McQueen had the most cordial 
support of his subordinate officers, and the officers that of the 
men, during this reign of inhumanity. 

On September ITth the Fifth Illinois Cavalry regiment was 
ordered to be mustered out of the service. 

September 21st, Colonel William Thompson was relieved of 
the command of the Second Brigade and assumed command of 
the regiment. 

The command remained at Hempstead, endeavoring to obey 
?/7?military orders of the commanding General, horse-racing, etc., 
iHiiil October 30th. 

Following is a statement of medicines purchased of Quarter- 
master Fluke, as appears from the record made at the time, 
now in possession of Surgeon Lothrop : 



238 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

May 6—22 oz. quinine, at $5 . 00, ----- $110.00 

" 27— 4 " " " 4.50, ----- 18.00 

Oct. 10— Medicine, ----------- 11 .75 

" 17— 2 oz. quinine, at $4.50. ------ 9.00 

.. 21—3 " " " 4.50. ------ 13.50 

.. 25—2 " " " 4.50. ------ 9.00 

" 30—3 " " •• 4.50. - 15.00 

$186 . 25 

Making a total amount of $186.25 expended for medicines 
which should have been used for the purchase of proper food 
and delicacies for the sick, and would have been so expended 
had the medical department of the division furnished the neces- 
sary medical supplies. 

On October 21st occurred the ''celebrated horse race" be- 
tween ^ ' Jack Rucker, ' ' General Custer's race horse, and a cap- 
tured horse of Company C, First Iowa Cavalry. It was 
essentially ' ' the First Iowa Cavalry against General Custer and 
his staff." Large sums of money were " put up " and lost by 
the regiment, as was generally believed and openly asserted, by 
the treachery of the rider (Nicholas LaCosta, a Mexican, and a 
private of Company C) of the horse ' ' backed ' ' by the regiment, 
the rider having received a liberal compensation from General 
Custer or his friends. That the race had been ' ' sold "" ' was so 
evident that the citizens who witnessed the race were loud in 
their denunciations of the dastardly act, and had the rider not 
suddenly disappeared for a time he would have received the 
punishment he so well merited. 

Feeling greatly elated over the result of the race, the Gen- 
eral's staff officers visited the camp of the regiment at night for 
the purpose of having a little recreation at "poker." As the 
evening advanced the ' ' recreation ' ' changed to ' ' business, ' ' 
and before the early dawn of the next morning the ' ' funds ' ' with 
accumulations were once more within the precincts of the regi- 
ment. 

Soon afterward, by order of General Custer, our ' ' Company 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 239 

C horse '' was transferred to the Quartermaster of General Ous- 
ters staff. This, however, did not prevent the regiment from 
' ' getting even ' ' with the General and his staff, as will be noted 
hereafter. 

On Monday, Octol)er 30th, at five a. m., the command 
marched for Austin, Texas, and camped two miles distant from 
Brenham, the county seat of Washington county, having 
marched a distance of twenty-five miles. 

October 31st, marched at six a. m. Passed through Bren- 
ham, Muscatine and Union Hill, and camped half a mile distant 
from Round Top, in Fayette county — all small towns — dis- 
tance marched eighteen miles. 

November 1st, marched at 6 a. m. By mistake the train 
marched by the way of LeGrange. Camped on Rah's creek, 
eight miles west from LeGrange. Distance marched twenty- 
three miles. 

November 2d, marched at 6 a. m. Passed through Win- 
chester and camped at Bastrop, a town on Piney creek, a 
small branch of the Colorado river in Bastrop county. Dis- 
tance marched twenty-seven miles. 

Novemljcr 3d, marched at six a. m., and camped on Walnut 
creek, six miles distant from Austin, the Capital of the State, 
in Travis county. Distance marched twenty-seven miles. 

November 4th, marched at eight a. m. , and camped two 
miles distant fi'om Austin, on the banks of the Colorado river. 
Distance marched four miles. The total distance marched be- 
ing one hundred and twenty-four miles. 

The headquarters of the regiment remained near the city of 
Austin until its muster out of the United States service. 

During the time the command was encamped at this place, 
detachments were sent out at different times to various places, 
for the purpose of assisting the local authorities in enforcing 
the laws of the State. On one occasion a large detachment 
was sent to Bonham, a town in Fannin county, in the northern 
part of the State, near the border of the Indian Territory. 



240 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

Horse races were of almost daily occurrence — General Cus- 
ter's father, brother and other members of the General's staif 
being among the participants. The principal race, however, 
took place on the race track near the city of Austin, called the 
city race track, between a citizen's horse and General Custer's 
horse, "Jack Rucker." Previous to leaving Hempstead, a 
citizen who was in sympathy with the regiment referred a few 
of us to a citizen living near Austin who had a stud of the 
fastest and finest horses in the State. Determined to outgen- 
eral General Custer, a call was made upon this gentleman on 
the day after our amval at Austin. After informing him as 
to our business with him, he very cheerfully entered into the 
project, and a few days afterward it was announced that Gen- 
eral Custer ''had made a race with a citizen.'' After the race 
had been decided upon, the citizen very innocently made his 
way to our camp and informed us of what had taken place. 
The stakes were |3,000— 11,500 on the part of each. In or- 
der to show his good faith and his confidence in the running- 
qualities of his little mare, he proposed to furnish the amount, 
$1,500, himself, and the regiment might take all the bets they 
could possibly obtain. The result was the regiment gave the 
General and his staff an opportunity to again invest. They 
improved the opportunity and > ' put up " all the money they 
could raise. 

Neither General Custer nor his staff were aware of any action 
of the regiment in the matter. A few days before the race was 
to be run, a soldier called upon the citizen, at the instance, as 
was reported and believed, of General Custer and his staff, and 
offered him $1,500 if he would permit without question Gen- 
eral Custer's horse to win. The citizen refused to entertain the 
proposition, saying • ' I was not brought up to run horses that 
way. If your horse is the fastest he takes the money ; if my 
mare is the fastest she gets it." Afterward he came to the 
camp and informed us of this dishonorable attempt. On the 
day appointed the race took place. The General and his staff, 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 241 

with their wives in ;iral)ulances, were present. The division 
hand was also present to assist in celeljrating the victory of 
"Jack Rucker, " his driver being fantastically arrayed in red, 
white and blue colors. They were all there to see how easily 
the General's horse was going to "get away" with the citizen's 
mare. The distance to be run was six hundred yards. After 
jockeying on the part of the trainer of the General's horse, the 
start was made, and the horse. Jack Rucker, was beaten by the 
little mare. l)y a distance of more than sixty feet. Cheer up- 
on cheer went u]) from the boys and citizens assembled there to 
witness the race, intermingled with such expressions as, " How 
are you. General Custer ?" " Couldn't steal the race this time I " 
' ' Why don't you make your band l)low ^ " — -and many other 
expressions. It is worthy of note that the band did not hlouK 
that the ladies did not wave their handkerchiefs, and that the 
General and his stafi', and the band and ambulances retreated in 
disorder and confusion, and that the regimental pocket had be- 
come plethoric, with a correspondingly flabby condition of that 
of the staff. The next day a staff officer came into camp to 
negotiate for a small loan. It soon became known that • ' that 
d — d First Iowa Cavalry was at the bottom of it.'" 

Nov. 2V>th. Lieutenant Samuel T. Craig, Company H, de- 
tached from his company, and acting as Assistant Quartermas- 
ter, was by command of General Custer sent to Galveston to 
[)rocure a nuich needed supply of quartermaster's stores, cloth- 
ing, camp and garrison equipage for the troops. 

During this time Colonel and Brevet Brigadier General 8. 1). 
Sturgis arrived at Austin with his regiment, the Sixth United 
States Cavalry, with a good supply of clothing, etc., and some 
necessary supplies were ol)tained from him for the regiment. 

December 141 h. General Sturgis was in connnand of the 
First Brigade, and Lieutenant H. S. Heberling, Company B. 
in charge of the ambulance corps, was by command of General 
Custer ordered to report (special order No. 10) direct to Gen- 
eral Sturgis for orders. Lieutenant Colonel McQueen, having 
31 



242 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

been previously promoted to Colonel and Brigadier General 
United States Volunteers by brevet, remained in command of 
the regiment. Colonel Thompson, who had been promoted 
(March 13th) to Brigadier General United States Volunteers by 
brevet, was on detached service in the city of Austin, Thus 
closed the year 1865. 

The personal history of the regiment during the year was a^ 
follows : 

The following named officers received brevet rank United 
States officers : Colonel William Thompson, Brigacher Gen- 
eral ; Lieutenant Colonel Alexander G. McQueen, Colonel and 
Brigadier General ; Major James D. Jenks, Lieutenant Colonel ; 
First Lieutenant and Adjutant H. L. Morrill, Captain and 
Major. 

Major Thomas A. Bereman had resigned, and Captain W. 
H. Whisenand, Company H, had been promoted to till the va- 
cancy. Assistant Surgeon Asa Morgan had been promoted to 
Surgeon of the Twelfth Illinois Cavalry. Hospital Steward 
Robert T. Newell was promoted to Lieutenant and Commissary. 

The following ])r()motions had taken place among the line 
officers : 

Company A — Second Lieutenant Thomas J. O'Blenessto Cap- 
tain ; Second Lieutenant Alexander P. Boyce and Sergeant 
fJauies P. Turner to First and Second Lieutenants. Lieutenant 
Turner was not mustered into the service as such. 

Company C — First Lieutenant Thomas J. R. Perry to Cap- 
tain ; Second Lieutenant Clinton M. Turner and Sergeant 
George VanBeek to First and Second Lieutenants. Lieutenant 
VanBeek was not mustered into the service as such. 

Company I) — Sergeant John C. Hammon to Second Lieuten- 
ant, but was not mustered into the service as such. 

Company E — First Lieutenant William A. Coulter to Captain ; 
Second Lieutenant C. C. Kaufman and Sergeant George E. 
Ives to First and Second Lieutenants. Second Lieutenant Ives 



HISTORY OF FIKST IOWA CA\'ALKY. 243 

was discharged for disability, and Sergeant Robert Baxter pro- 
moted to till vacancy, but not nuistered into the service as such. 

Company F — Second Lieutenant Charles W. W. Dow and 
Sergeant James C. Huskins to First and Second Lieutenants. 

Company G — ^Second Lieutenant A. W. Hosford to Captain; 
priN\ate Ernest A. Klingenberg and Sergeant Eli \\'arring to 
First and Second Lieutenants. 

Company H — Fir^^t Lieutenant A. V. McCormick to Captain ; 
Second Lieutenant Samuel T. Craig and Sergeant George M. 
Mark to First and Second Lieutenants. 

Company I — First Lieutenant Amos Dilley to Captain ; and 
Sergeants Joseph H. Springer and Sanniel M. Lindsay to First 
and Second Lieutenants. 

Company K — Second Lieutenant James M. Russell to Cap- 
tain ; Sergeants Walter W. Carpenter and Charles DuBois to 
First and Second Lieutenants. 

Company M — Second Lieutenant Solomon Townsend to Cap- 
tain : Second Lieutenant George McDouall and Sergeant Ed- 
ward Ware to First and Second Lieutenants. 

Second Lieutenant John A. Russell. Company A, and First 
Lieutenant Edwin A. Dunham, Company M, were honorably 
nuistered out the service ; and Second Lieutenant William B. 
Ramsey. Company I), resigned. 

UKPOKT ')]■' LIEUTENANT COLONEL M( QUEEN. 
Following is the report of Lieutenant ('olonel McQueen as 
to the outrageous treatment the regiment suffered at the hands 
of General Custer; General Custers effort of vindication; Gen- 
eral Forsyth's endorsement of General Custer's acts ; Lieuten- 
ant Colonel McQueen's reply thereto ; Surgeon Lothrop's affi- 
davit as to the untruthfulness of General Forsyth's endorse- 
ment ; witii orders and other paixMs relating to the matter, as 
found in the re[)ort of the Adjutant General of the State of 
Iowa for the year 1867. Also more recent affidavits of officers 
and men who were present with the command at that time. 



244 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

************** 
The rebellion being now suppressed, and the war virtually ended, 
the regiment fondly indulged the hope of a speedy muster out of the 
service. While indulging in this fond anticipation orders were received 
from Lieutenant General Grant, with silent disappointment by all. for 
the regiment to proceed to the State of Texas. Pursuant to said ordei' 
the First Iowa. Twelfth and Fifth Illinois, Second Wisconsin and Sev- 
enth Indiana Cavalry Regiments commenced embarking on transports 
for Alexandria, Louisiana. June loth, the advance arriving and report- 
ing to Major (General Custer, at Alexandria. June 22d and 23d, to whose 
command these regiments were assigned. But before the troops were 
fairly in camp special order No. 2 was published to the command. It 
is as follows : 

• • Headquarters Cavalry, 
••Alexandria, Louisiana. June 24th. 1865. 
•Special Orders No. 2. 

"Numerous complaints having reached these headquarters of depre- 
dations having been committed by persons belonging to this command, 
all officers and soldiers are hereby urged to use every exertion to pre- 
vent the committal of acts of lawlessness, which, if permitted to pass 
unpunished, will bring discredit upon the command. Now that the 
war is virtually ended, the rebellion put down, and peace about to be 
restored to our entire country, let not the lustre of the last four years be 
dimmed by a single act of misconduct towards the persons or property 
of those with whom we may be brought in contact. In future, and par- 
ticularly on the march, the utmost care will be exercised to save the 
inhabitants of the country in which we may be located from any molest- 
ation whatever. 

"As supplies can be obtained from the supply train when needed. 
there will be no necessity for foraging upon the country. 

' ' No foraging parties will be sent out from this command without writ- 
ten permission from these headquarters, and then only to obtain fresh 
beef and grain, for which payment will be made by the chiefs of the 
proper departments at these headquarters. 

" Every violation of this order will receive prompt and severe punish- 
ment. Owing to the delays of court martial s, and their impracticability 
when the command is unsettled, it is hereby ordered that any enlisted 
man violating the above order, or committing depredations upon the 
persons or property of citizens, will have his head shaved, and in addi- 
tion will receive twenty-five lashes upon his hack, well laid on. This 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 245 

punishment will, in all cases, be administered under the supervision of 
the Provost Marshal of the command, who is charged with the execu- 
tion of this order so far as it in his power. 

'•Any officer failing to adopt proper steps to restrain his men from 
violating this order, or who fails to report to these headquarters the 
names of those violating it. will be at once arrested and his name for- 
warded to the proper authority for prompt and dishonorable dismissal 
from the army. The commanding Genei'al is well aware that the num- 
ber of those upon whom the enforcement of this order will be necessary 
will be small, and he ti-usts that in no case will it be necessary. 

• ' He is also confident that those who entered the service from proper 
motives will see the necessity for a strict compliance with the require- 
ments of this oi'der. 

■ • ( 'itizens of the surrounding country are earnestly invited to furnish 
these headquarters any information they may acquire which will lead 
to the discovery of any parties violating the foregoing order. 

■ • Regimental commanders will publish this order to every man in 
their commands. 

■ • By command of Major General Custer. 

■•(Signed.) J. L. GREENE, Asst. Adjt. General. 

•Official: L. W. Barnhart, Asst. Adjl. General." 

A true copy : A. G. McQueen, Lt. Col. 1st la. Cav, 

On the promulgation of this order no little indignation was mani- 
fested by all the troops, which would be but natural among all honora- 
ble and high-minded men. who from purely patriotic motives responded 
to the first call for volunteers to defend and maintain the laws of the 
country, and endured the privations and vicissitudes incidental to four 
years' active warfare, to be thus subjected to eternal disgrace, without 
a shadow of law or precedent ; and rebel citizens, entertaining the most 
malignant bitterness toward Federal soldiers, ■ • earnestly invited " to 
become their prosecutors and accusers, without being allowed an oppor- 
tunity foi' defense : and at the same time know^ing that the numerous 
complaints mentioned in this preamble to be untrue, so far as this com- 
mand was concerned. But this insult to the dignity of every good and 
honest soldier would have been overlooked as a mere threat had their 
most natural and most reasonable wants have been half supplied as 
promised in said order, which the sequel will show were not. 

On July 12th Lieutenant Colonel McQueen, who was placed in charge 
of the embarkation at Memphis, reported with the balance of the com- 
mand, when the division was organized as follows : 



246 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

First Brigade, Brigadier General Forsyth commanding — Twelfth Illi- 
nois Cavalry. Seventh Indiana Cavalry. Fifth Illinois Cavalry. 

Second Brigade. Colonel William Thompson commanding — First Iowa 
Cavalry, Second Wisconsin Cavalry. 

The succeeding history of the regiment would be gladly passed over 
with a simple insertion of its changes, and bring this report, already 
too lengthy, to a speedy close ; but as the conduct of the regiments and 
officers composing this division has been reported by Major General 
Custer as being " infamous and mutinous.'' as a justification for his own 
impolitic course and unwarranted neglect and abuse of this command 
the honor of the State and the honor of the regiment demand a vindi- 
cation of those honest, brave and faithful patriots who comi^osed the 
regiment from this base slander, heaped upon their fair record by one 
clothed with brief, misplaced authority. The writer is well aware that 
in so doing he may overstep the bounds of what might be considered 
strict military propriety and etiquette, but he will not. in any event, 
overstep the boundary of truth. The publicity which this difficulty has 
had in our own State and elsewhere seems to demand an explanation. 

After the arrival of the command at Alexandria, in pursuance to or- 
ders, estimates were promptly handed in for all needed supplies for a 
complete outfit. Requisitions were made on the proper departTuents. 
properly signed and approved, foi' the necessary clothing, camp and 
garrison equipage, horses and horse equipments. The regiment here 
turned over their Sharpens carbines, and drew in their stead new Spen- 
cer carbines and accoutrements. In time they drew a full supply of 
horses but no horse equipments, and about one-tenth of the amount of 
clothing for which requisition had been made, and a very few articles 
of camp and garrison equipage, notwithstanding many soldiers were 
almost naked and barefooted. 

On the 8th day of August, just forty-seven days after our arrival at 
Alexandria, this command started for Texas, sujiplied as above stated in 
some things, and as will be hereafter mentioned in other matters. Just 
before starting, on the morning of the 8th. general orders No. 15 was 
promulgated, as follows. Special attention is invited to paragraphs 
one. four. five. six. seven, ten. eleven and twelve of this order : 

•Headquarters Second Cavalry Division, 

• ' Military Division of the Gulf. 

••August 7th. 1865. 
"General Orders No. 15. 

• ■ The command being about to march through a section of country 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 247 

which has been beyond the control of the Government for four years, 
and it being desirable to cultivate the most friendly feeling's vrith the in- 
habitants thereof, all belong'ing to this command will be required to ex- 
ercise the most scrupulous regard for the rights and property of those 
with whom they may be brought in contact. The following rules will 
be strictly observed. 

•I. The command will habitually move in columns of fours, omit- 
ting the usual intervdl betweeti companies, squadrons and regiments. 

••II. The commanding otficer of the brigade which moves in rear 
will detail for that day a guard of one hundred (100) men to escort the 
train. He will also cause the pioneers of one regiment to march at the 
head of the train, reporting to the quartermaster in charge. 

■ 11 J. One-half of the escort of the train will march in advance, the 
other half in rear of the train. The officer commanding will regulate 
his gait by that of the train, and will be held responsible for the good 
conduct of his men. He will also arrest and bring to these head- 
quarters any person belonging to the train whom he detects violating 
any paragraph of this order. 

• • IV. Brigade commanders will cause a detachment of their provost 
guard, under command of a commissioned officer, to march in the im- 
mediate rear of their brigades. It will be the duty of these officers to 
prevent men from falling out of the ranks or leaving the columns, ex- 
fe])t under orders. 

••V. No enlisted man will be permitted to leave the ranks with his 
horse, except on duty or when accompanied by an officer. If upon 
duty, he must be furnished with written authority. A dispatch or re- 
ceipt foi- same will be deemed proper authority. If found absent from 
the column in violation of this order, any officer is authorized to seize 
his horse and equipments and apj)ropriate them for the use of dis- 
mounted men of the command. Brigade commanders will instruct 
their officers in command of the detachment of provost guard, in rear 
of their brigade, to be particularly zealous in carrying out the require- 
ments of this paragraph. 

• VI. If it becomes necessary for an enlisted man to leave the ranks 
to procure water, or attend to the wants of nature, he will be permitted 
to do so dismounted, leaving his hoi-se to be held by the man <jn his 
right. ()!■ left, in the same set of fours. 

• • VII. The dismounted men of this command will be organized into a 
fool battalion, under command of Ca])tain J. H. Elliott. Seventh Indiana 
( "avalry. Brigade commandei's will designate, each, two efficient 



248 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY, 

officers to take charge of the dismounted men of their commands, and 
will cause one non-commissioned officer, mounted from each regiment, 
to report to the senior officer. 

' ' The senior officer in charge of the dismounted men of each brigade 
will at once report to Captain J. H. Elliott for instructions. The dis- 
mounted men will be required to carry their carbines, blankets and 
haversacks, and will march immediately in the rear of the rear brigade. 
The officer commanding the foot battalion will take possession of all 
horses and equipments found absent from the column in violation of 
paragraph five of this order, and mount with men, taking from the 
most deserving, in the foot battalion. The men thus dismounted will 
be placed in the foot battalion. The mounted non-commissioned officers 
attached to the foot battalion will be employed in arresting men found 
absent from the column without authority. 

' ' VIII. Any enlisted man detected in any act of lawlessness will in 
addition to other punishment be deprived of his horse and be required 
to march on foot. 

'• IX. The commanding officer of the foot battalion, when having op- 
poi'tunity to mount men of his command, will select those whose con- 
duct upon the march has been most commendable. 

"X. No foraging parties will be permitted. All needed supplies 
can be obtained from the supply train which will accompany the 
command. 

"XL Any officer sending an enlisted man from the column without 
furnishing him with the required written authority will, in case such 
enlisted man is deprived of his horse thereby, be required to mount 
him upon the horse ridden by himself. Such horse is the property of the 
Government. 

• ' XII. All led animals and officers' servants will march in rear of the 
rear brigade, and in the order of the brigade. An officer from each 
brigade will be placed in permanent charge of this train. A non-com- 
missioned officer from each regiment will be detailed to take charge 
of that portion of the train belonging to his own regiment. 

'•XIII. In procuring fuel, no interfei-ence with fences or prepared 
fencing material will be allowed. 

' ' XIV. The officer second in command of each i^egiment will march 
in i"ear of his regiment. The officer second in command of each 
squadron will march in rear of his squadron. 

•'XV. The Pi'ovost Marshal of the division will each day inspect the 




MAX KLEIN 



COMPANY F. 



HISTORY OF FIR8T IOWA CAVALRY. 249 

column upon the march and see that paragraphs five, twelve and foui-- 
teen are c<>mplied with. 

"By coiamand of Major General Custer. 

•'L. W. Barnhart. Assistant Adjutant General.^'' 

All the First Iowa were mounted, but seventy-five or eighty men 
were not pi-ovided with saddles or bridles. The dismounted men, about 
two hundred, all belonging- to the First Brigade, were formed into a 
foot battalion, and required to carry their carbines, accoutrements, 
with twenty rounds of ammunition, blankets and haversacks, with 
three days' -ations, and march • • immediately" in rear of the command, 
which can be imagined to be no easy task in the month of August, with 
the hot rays of a Louisiana sun beating upon them, besides being almost 
constantly enveloped in a cloud of dust, such as three thousand cavalry- 
would I'aise. Those who had horses and were not provided with sad- 
dles were required to ride their horses bareback, or on such blankets as 
they had or could procure from their comrades, without having any 
means for binding them on their horses. The result was that after a 
few days the horses' backs thus ridden would become scalded, raw and 
fiy-blown. On numerous occasions those faithful dumb brutes were 
turned loose by my orders and abandoned, with a foot or more of theii' 
backbones entirely exposed, and their living flesh being eaten up by 
large clusters of maggots that were embedded in the flesh and under 
the skin, presenting a spectacle disgusting in the extreme. It would 
have been an act of mercy to have shot the animals, but the regulations 
forbid such. The soldiers thus dismounted were always transferred to 
the foot battalion. 

Notwithstanding Government transpoi-ts were leaving Alexandria 
almost daily for New Orleans, and from thence to Galveston. Texas. 
these soldiers were compelled to make this trip of two hundred and fifty 
miles supplied as mentioned, and in the manner thus stated. The Chief 
('ommissary of Subsistence took seventeen days' rations of hard bread, 
sugar and coffee, two days' rations of salt meat, and a limited quantity 
of salt; no beans, rice, hominy, vinegar, soap, candles, etc.. it is said 
because the Division Quartermaster failed to furnish transportation for 
more, while there were hundreds of wagons and mules being sold at 
public auction daily, at large sacrifices, in New Orleans, Vicksburg. 
Memphis, and other points on the Mississippi river, as redundant prop- 
erty, and ten days would have been ample time to have brought them 
and all other supplies for which this division was suffering to Alexan- 
dria, instead of seven weeks, and then not furnished. 

32 



260 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

The order governing the march, with the additions and supplements 
to general orders No. 15. were cruel and inhuman — such as would have 
caused barbarous nations in barbarous ages to blush for shame, together 
with the practice which they engendered. For an instance : Para- 
graphs five and six of general order No. 15 were decided to mean that 
neither officer nor soldier was permitted to leave the ranks mounted 
without written permission from his brigade commander, who very 
often would be one or two miles in advance, under penalty of having 
his horse and equipments taken from him. and if a public horse the 
value of the property thus taken should be charged as a stoppage 
against the individual on his muster and pay roll : and any officer send- 
ing a soldier out of the ranks, on business or duty, without a pass prop- 
erly approved, if such soldier lost his horse, then the horse ridden by 
said officer was to be taken and the soldier mounted thereon — "such 
horse is the property of the Government." There were only eleven 
ambulances in the division. Part of the time seven of these were used 
for transporting the sick of the command. A portion of the time only 
six were thus used, the others being at headquarters for the use of offi- 
cers and their wives. Thus many were required to ride their horses 
when too sick to sit on a horse without oscillating in the saddle, and 
not unfrequently the assistance of the friendly hand of a comrade was 
an absolute necessity. 

Under these circumstances men would frequently fall from their 
horses, sick, faint, and left by the roadside insensible, and no friend 
permitted to remain long enough to administer one sup of the warm 
water in his canteen — only by leaving his horse to be led in the column 
and perform the balance of that day's march on foot. If the soldier 
would fall off near enough the head of his regiment for an officer to 
write the word "sick" on a. card and pin it on his person before the 
rear of the regiment would pass, it was done ; and, if seen by the am- 
bulance corps when it would come up. the soldier would be taken in. 
provided they had room — which they did not have only by requiring 
some one already in to walk. How many were thus left, prostrated to 
the ground with fatigue and disease, to live or die among people hostile 
to Federal soldiers, is not known ; but that some were there is no doubt. 
By some of the officers of the First Iowa acting in defiance of these 
orders, and by the efficiency and faithful vigilance of Assistant Surgeon 
Hervey, all the sick of the regiment were brought through to Hemp- 
stead, but one or two died there in a few days after reaching there from 
the effects of that cruel march. From the manner the whole march 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 251 

was conducted a large amount of sickness was inevitable. Every morn- 
ing reveille was sounded at two o'clock, and the command moved at 
four o'clock, an hour or more before daylight, and would encamp from 
ten o'clock A. M. to three o'clock p. Ji. After getting into camp the 
men were required to graze their more than half-starved horses and 
attend to other duties. Rations were issued almost every day. but not 
until late at night, after the arrival of the supply train, when the men 
should be asleep. It will be remembered that only two days' rations 
of salt meat were brought from Alexandi-ia ; consequenntly fresh beef 
was issued every night, which would be killed after" the arrival of the 
8upi)ly train, and not allowed time to cool, either before or after 
slaughtering. After being driven behind the sup^ily train all day. and 
furnished often at such a late hour at night, it was impossible to cook 
it properly for want of vessels, salt, and time to procure necessary rest 
and sleep, while these evils could have been remedied very easily by 
having the beef cattle and forage train move one day in advance, there 
being no enemy at this time to molest them. The attention of the com- 
manding (ieneral was called to these irregular practices, but without 
effect, and the party reminded of the impertinence of inferiors address- 
ing august dignitaries. The consequences were diarrhoea and all the 
diseases incidental to cam]) and the season were prevalent to an alarm- 
ing extent, which, under paragraph six, general order No. 15, and its 
kindred supplements, were doubly severe on those who. from necessity. 
were comi)elled to leave the column while marching. 

Our horses have been two days at a time without scarcely an ear of 
corn, with an abundance in the country, but often too inconvenient for 
the Division Quartermaster to drive off the road with his two-horse 
carriage to procure it : and when corn was issued it was at such a late 
hour of the night that by the time the horses were done eating reveille 
would sound. Officers were thus compelled to purchase corn at their 
own fXi)ense for their jjrivate hoi-ses — that. too. in violation of para- 
graph ten, general order No. 1."). for the violation of which Captain 
I)iiley"s negro servant boy had his head shaved, and in addition thereto 
received twenty-five lashes on his hare back with a mule whip. i1 is 
said, in the presence of and to the gi-eat amusement of division head- 
quarters, for the offense of pulling grass for the Captain's horse in a 
field that had not been cultivated for years. 

The practice inaugurated under general order No. lo of capture and 
re])risal had the most pernicious effect on the discipline and morals of 
the whole division. Besides brigade provost guards, some regiments de- 



252 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

tailed petty provost guards to pick up any soldier who. from necessity, 
was compelled to leave the column with the hope of being able to start 
before the rear of his regiment would pass, and by this means obtain 
property to replace that which was taken from his command in a similar 
manner ; and. strange to say. there were officers of high rank who were 
so far lost to all sense of honor, justice and common courtesy as to pros- 
ecute with zeal those retaliatory practices upon sick private soldiers, 
when opportunity presented, in order to gratify some petty pique they 
may have entertained against the soldier's commanding officer or his 
regiment. 

However, it is gratifying to be able to say that a large majority of 
officers deemed it bejieath the dignity of officers and gentlemen to en- 
gage in this high-handed thieving business, which brought this division, 
a few months before the pride of all who belonged to it. to be as perfect 
a pandemonivim as can be imagined, preferring to relieve their officers 
who lost property in this way from responsibility by action of a board 
of survey. 

The general expression and unanimous sentiment of all good and 
well disposed persons were. "If this be peace give us war.'' On the 
itth day of August, while marching, Brigadier General Forsyth, com- 
manding the First Brigade, ordered a forage' on the officers' colored 
servants, who were marching in the i-ear. and compelled them to de- 
liver up the officers" private saddles ridden by them, and in some 
instances officers' body blankets in charge of their servants, and private 
horses, and had them issued to his brigade ; and excejit in a few in- 
stances the jn"opei"ty thus forcibly taken was never returned. At the 
same time thei-e was scarcely an officer at headquarters who was riding 
a private horse or saddle, or had a private servant hired, but detailed 
mounted soldiers to perform their menial duty, contrary to their will 
and in express violation of law. 

The following is the correspondence on this subject : 

• ' Headquarters First Iowa Cavalry, 
•'Camp in the Field, Louisiana. August 9th, 1865. 
' • Lieutenant : — I have the honor to call your attention to the fact 
that, while on the march to-day. Major McDermott, Major Jenks and Lieu- 
tenant Dow, and other officers of the First Iowa Cavalry, had their pri- 
vate saddles, and in some instances their blankets and horses, which 
are also private property, taken from their servants, it is said, for the 
purpose of furnishing the soldiers of the regiments who have no saddles. 
The saddles that were taken from the officers of the First Iowa Cavalry 



HISTORY or FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 253 

vvei-e not issued to the men of the regiment, and I have not been able 
to ascertain what disposition was made of them. I will respectfully ask 
that some protection might be afforded to the private property of offi- 
cers of the regiment. Some of the saddles taken were not even of the 
(Government pattern, but purchased from citizens last evening. 
• • Very respectfully, your obedient servant. 

••A. G. McQueen. Lt. Col. 1st Iowa Cavalry. 
■To Lieut. H. L. Mokkill. A. A. A. G. 2d Brigade.''^ 

See following indorsement : 

•Headquarters 2d Brig., 3d Cav. Div., 

•In the Field. August 9th, 1865. 

• • Respectfully forwarded to headquarters Cavalry Division for con- 
sideration — approved. 

• • I would respectfully request that the unequipped portion of my 
command be allowed to march with their respective companies and 
regiments, as their fi'iends and bunkmates will gladly loan their saddles 
part of the time and divide the onerous task of riding without. 

•'(Signed,) Wm. Thompson, 

•• Col. 1st loiva Cav., Conidg. 2d Brigade.'' 

•Headquarters 2d Cav. Div., August 9th, 1865. 
•• Respectfully returned to Colonel Thompson, commanding Second 
Brigade, to know if the officers within named were riding private sad- 
dles at the time their saddles were taken from their servants. 

• • By command of Major General Custer. 

••(Signed.) L. W. Barnhart, A. A. G." 

■ • Headquarters 2d Brigade. 2d Division. 

••In the Field, August 9th, 1865. 
• ' Respectfully referred to Lieutenant Colonel McQueen, First Iowa 
( "avalry, whose attention is invited to the indorsement from division 
headquarters. 

■ • By order of Colonel Thompson, commanding brigade. 
•• (Signed.) H. L. Morrill. 

■ Lt. and Adjt. 1st Iowa Cav. and A. A. A. G." 

■ • Headquarters 1st Iowa Cavalry, 

•Cajip in the Field. August 9th, 1865. 
• Respectfully returned, with the remark that to my own personal 
knowledge the officers within named have ridden none other than pri- 
vate horses and private saddles during the past four years^ service. 
Also to state that Major McDermotfs horse and Lieutenant Dow's horse 



254 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

have been returned ; also Major Jenks' and Lieutenant Dow's saddles, 
but Major McDermott's saddle and Lieutenant Dow's body blanket and 
bridle have not been returned. Neither have the saddles and blankets 
taken from the line officers been returned, and no clue obtained as to 
where they have gone, further than that they were taken by Lieutenant 
Long-fellowf, Company K, Seventh Indiana Cavalry, in charge of the 
provost guard. A. G. McQueen. 

" (Signed.) '' Lieut. Col. 1st Iowa Cavalry Commanding.'' 

• Headquarters 2d Brig. Cav. Divisu)n. 

•'August 10th, 1865. 
• ' Respectfully referred to headquarters Cavalry Division, with refer- 
ence to the report of commanding officer First Iowa Cavalry, which is 
true and correct. -'Wm. Thompson. Coloiiel Comdg. Brigade.'' 

"Headquarters 2d Cavalry Division. 

"August 30th, 1865. 
• ' Respectfully referred to the commanding officer of the First Brig- 
ade, who will cause those articles to be returned immediately. 
' ' By command of Major General Custer. 

" (Signed.) J. L. Greene. A. A. Gen." 

■ • Headquarters First Cavalry Brigade. 

"Hempstead, Texas, August 30th, 1865. 
• ' Respectfully referred to commanding officer Seventh Indiana Cav- 
alry, who will cause Lieutenant Longfellow to deliver the private prop- 
erty to the parties claiming it. or so much thereof as has not already 
been turned over, if the property claimed is within the Seventh Indiana 
Cavalry. Lieutenant Longfellow will make full report of what has be- 
come of the property, if taken by him. and return these papers with 
the same. 

' ' By order of Brigadier General Shanks. 

" (Signed.) J. Q. Reed. Capt. and A. A. G." 

"Headquarters Seventh Indiana Cavalry, 

"Camp Forsyth. Texas. August 31st, 1865. 
" Respectfully returned with the written statement of Lieutenant 
Longfellow, which is enclosed. The saddles were directed to be seized 
by myself, in pursuance to the oi-der of Brigadier General Forsyth, 
commanding First Brigade. They were directed to be turned over to 
Captain J. H. Elliott, in charge of the foot battalion. It is impossible 
for me to know whether or not any of the articles are now in my com- 
mand. (Signed.) Thos. M. Broun, Lt. Col. Comdg." 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAV.\LRY. 255 

• Headquaktehs Co. K, 7th Indiana Cavalky. 

■Camp Forsyth, Aug-ust 31st, 1865. 
• Captain J. Q. Reed, A. A. A. O.: 

■■ Captain — On the 7th of Aug-ust, and while on the march. I took, 
by order of Lievitenant Colonel Broun, commandinjj^ the regiment, quite 
a number of .saddles of the Government pattern from colored servants 
I'iding with the ■ pack train.' I did not then know to what persons or to 
what regiment they belonged. I turned everything then captured over 
t« Captain Joel H. Elliott, commanding dismounted men. The saddles 
were put on horses, and put into the possession of dismounted men ; 
hut I do not know in what propoi-tion or to what regiments they wei'e 
issued. I have none of them in my possession or under my control. 
■■Yours very respectfully, 
••(Signed,) John D. Longfellow. 

•• Second Lieut. Co. K. 7th Indiana Cavalry.'''' 

• Headquarters 1st Cavalry Brigade. 

■Hempstead. Texas. August 31st. 1865. 

• ■ Respectfully returned : attention invited to indorsement of Lieuten- 
ant Colonel Broun, and report of Lieutenant Longfellow. 

• (Signed.) John P. C. Shanks. 

•• Brevet Brigadier General Comdg. Brigade.^" 

•'Headquarters 2d Division (Cavalry. 

■Military Division of the Gulf. 

" September 1 st, 1865. 
•■ Respectfully returned to (^olonel Thompson, commanding Second 
Brigade, for his information. 

• ■ By command of Major General Custer. 

••(Signed.) Jacob L. Greene, Major and A. A. Cent.'''' 

' • Headquarters 2d Cavalry Brigade. 
■•September 2d. 1865. 
■ • Respectfully returned to commanding officer First Iowa (Cavalry 
for his information. 

• By order of (^'olonel Thompson, commanding brigade. 

••(Signed.) H. L. Morrill. Lieut, and A. A. (?." 

•Headquarters First Iowa Cavalry, 

•Hempstead. Texas. September 2d. 1865. 

• • Respectfully returned, with the remark in reference to the report 
of Lieutenant Longfellow that some of the saddles taken were of the 
(rovernraent pattern and some were not. All were private property. 



'256 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

nevertheless, as up to July, 1864, every officer and private soldier, with 
few exceptions, owned his own horse and full set of equipments, and 
to-day quite a number of the soldiers are riding their own equipments, 
which they purchased by proper authority, and paid for, in preference 
to running the risk of being so well suited again. The blankets were 
doubtless • Government pattern " also, yet they wer-e officers' privat 
property, and for the want of which they have suffered great inconven- 
ience, there being none to be had in the Quartermaster's department in 
this division to supply the place of those forcibly taken while in posses- 
sion of their servants and marching in the place assigned them by the 
division commander. A. G. McQueen. 

■•(Signed,) Lt. Col. 1st Iowa Cavalry, Commanding."'' 

We arrived at Hempstead, Texas, August 'ieth. with our rations ex- 
hausted and many of the soldiers barefooted, almost naked and without 
blankets, and no supplies provided. We will now see how paragraph 
two. special order No. 2, and paragraph two, general order No. 15. 
were carried out on their part. On the 28th day of August the chief 
commissary procured from some place and issued five days' rations of 
hog jowls and hard bread. The jowls had about one-fifth of the hair 
still on them, and out of which tusks were taken measuring seven and a 
half inches in length, and apparently three inches must have been worn 
off their points by long usage, — a sample of which was sent to and no 
doubt can be seen with the Historical Society of the State of Wisconsin. 
The hard bread was perforated by worms, genei-ations of them having 
taken wings and flown away, leaving numerous progeny still behind. 
Soldiers who had money purchased supplies in the country, in violation 
of orders ; but those who had no money were compelled to rob their 
emaciated horses of a portion of their stinted supply of corn, and by 
parching and boiling it managed to appease hunger and sustain life 
for a period of fifteen days, — the numerous appeals of regimental com- 
manders for relief proving of no avail. During this extreme destitution 
and intense suffering a party of soldiers of the Seventh Indiana and 
Twelfth Illinois Cavalry regiments were arrested for killing a beef run- 
ning on the prairie, and had their heads shaved, and in addition re- 
ceived twenty-five lashes on their bare backs, without trial or any op- 
portunity for seU-defense. at a time, too. when the command was settled. 
At the time these arrests were made, some fresh beef was found in one 
of the wagon trains, and Horace C. Cure, Company M, First Iowa Cav- 
alry, a brave, honest and faithful veteran soldier, was arrested on sus- 
picion of knowing who bi-ought this beef into the train, and because he 




Capt. THDMAS H, BARNES 



COMPANY K. 



HLSTOKY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 257 

would not or could not tell who the party was, had his head shaved and 
received twenty-five lashes on the bare back, without trial or any op- 
portunity for self-defense, when it could be proven that he had nothing 
to do in bringing- it there, and it is not yet known that he knew who 
the party was. 

Had a repetition of this barbarous and inhuman punishment been 
attempted on the person of a First Iowa soldier in direct violation of 
law. or precedent, the consequences would have been lamentable in the 
extreme, (^n arriving at Hempstead it was ordered that all mail mat- 
ter should be forwarded through the Provost Marshal of the division, 
and it is here worthy of note that as yet the writer has not known of 
a single communication of his to his friends, or relatives, at home oi' 
elsewhere, during a period of two months, sent thi'ough that channel. 
that has ever reached its destination. A statement of our grievances 
having reached Washington, through irregular channels of official com- 
munication, a report was called for by the authorities, to show cause 
for this -cruel and inhuman treatment."" The commanding (xeneral 
in one wholesale charge denounced the character of his entire command, 
especially regimental commanders, as infamous and mutinous : and 
what, is remarkable, makes use of the following expression in the same 
repc"t containing the denunciation referred to above, dated Hemp- 
stead, October 26th, 1865, to wit : -I am happy to say that to-day no 
better behaved regiments are included in the volunteer force than those 
now composing my command."" 

During the latter part of September, a few weeks previous to the 
date of said report, the First Iowa was inspected by Colonel Vollum. 
Surgeon U. S. A., and Medical Director Department of Texas, and by 
Major Harrison, U. S. A.. Special Inspector of Cavalry, and immedi- 
ately after the inspection was completed the writer asked those officers 
if they had any suggestions to make in the way of improvement. Col- 
onel Vollum replied in these words, in the presence of quite a number 
of oflRcers of the division, to wit : ■ • No. Colonel — you have the best 
regiment on the ground or in the department" — Major Harrison assent- 
ing to the remark. But as special orders No. 2 was promulgated before 
the First Iowa was under General Custer's command twelve hours, and 
before he knew anything about the regiment, it might be well to refer 
to the following reports as to the previous character of the regiment, 
in contrast to the sweeping charges of Major (ieneral Custer above re- 
ferred to. The reports of Acting Assistant Inspector (General Lieuten- 
ant S. M. Lake, Captain E. J. Myers, Captain R. M. Reynolds and 



258 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

Lieutenant Hitt, for the months of Mai'ch. April, May and June. 1865. 
at Memphis, Tennessee. The writer, being on duty at headquarters in 
Memphis in the month of June, knows from personal knowledge that 
those ofilcers mention the regiment in the most satisfactory, and even 
very complimentary terms in their i-eports. Also Captain C. S. Bow- 
man. U. S. A., Special Inspector of Cavalry, in his report of an inspec- 
tion made at Alexandria. Louisiana, about four weeks after reporting 
to (leneral Custei*. mentions the First Iowa as being ■ • the finest regi- 
ment and the best officered in the volunteer service." Additional evi- 
dence can be produced to establish the gross injustice of those charges 
made against a body of men who sacrificed nearly everything they pos- 
sessed to defend law and order, by one clothed with temporary power. 
as a justification for violating law and the common instincts of human- 
ity. But this will suffice. 

While encamped at Hempstead the regiment was engaged in drilling 
•'exclusively in the school of the platoon." dismounted in the forenoon 
and mounted in the afternoon, and endeavoring to obey a series of vo- 
luminous, threatening and conflicting orders, general and special, and 
individual in.structions, with as little prospect of success as to attempt 
making a rope of the sand on the Sahara desert. 

A copy of general order No. 19 is enclosed, the absurdity of which 
will be apparent : 

•HEADyUAKTEK.s 2l) UiV. CaV., MIL. DiV. OF THE GULF. 

••September 9th. 1865. 
'•(iENEHAL Orders No. 19. 

••Until further orders mounted drill in the forenoon will be discon- 
tinued. Dismounted drill will be substituted therefor. The horses of 
the command will be taken out to graze at seven a. m. Recall from 
grazing will.be sounded at ten a. m. Grazing will be conducted as fol- 
lows : The grazing details from each regiment will invariably be under 
charge of a field officer. One officer from each squadron must be sent 
in charge of the horses and men from each squadron. One man to 
every fo\u' horses will be detailed to conduct the horses to and from the 
grazing ground and to take charge of them while grazing. All other 
officers and enlisted men * for duty' and subject to drill will be exercised 
at dismounted drill. The number of men on drill must at least be 
three times that of those detailed to attend to grazing. Regimental 
commanders, by employing convalescents and servants upon grazing 
detail, (;an increase the number of men on drill. Hereafter brigade 
commanders will forward to these headquarters by eleven A. M. each 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. '259 

day a report for the preceding day, showing the number of officers and 
men from each regiment employed on grazing detail, and the number of 
officers and men from each regiment engaged in dismounted drill. In 
case the above reports are not received in these headquarters at the 
hour specified, the brigade commander from whom the report is due 
will be requii'ed to make an immediate report in person. 

■ • By command of Major (xeneral Custer. 

•'(Signed.) Jacob L. Greenk, 

Major and Assistant Adjutant General. 

••Official: H. L. Mokkill. Lieut, and A. A. A. O."" 

The absurdity of this order is apparent, for after deducting the 
number of men on dismounted duty, and the sick in hospital and in 
quarters, the regiment lacked one hundred and thirty-eight men of hav- 
ing enough to leave three times as many men drilling as were grazing 
horses. It was then peremptorily ordered that officers' colored sei-vants 
and convalescents in q uarters be employed to graze horses in order that 
the terms of the order might be carried out, for the non-compliance of 
which orders all were denounced as ••infamous and mutinous." By 
the interference of the War Department at Washington all obnoxious 
ordei's were rescinded. 

On October 29th the division marched for Austin, the Capital of the 
State, where it arrived on the 4th day of November. Here comfortable 
cantonments were erected for the men. and the regiment permitted to 
behave in a soldierly manner without molestation from division head- 
quarters, and regimental and company commanders permitted to exer- 
cise the functions of their respective positions in discipline and man- 
aging the internal affairs of this command. 

It is here worthy of remark that, during this period of confusion and 
misrule, not a single man of the First Iowa, except Horace C. Cure, was 
ai-rested by any guards for any olTense but of the most trivial natiu-e, 
and not in a single instance was any brought before a court martial. 
The writer feels it but simple justice to acknowledge his grateful thanks 
to the officers and enlisted men for their universal good behavior and 
manly deportment during a period of so much aggravation and needless 
suffering. The thanks of the whole regiment are especially due to Sur- 
geon C. H. Lothrop. for the special and unfailing interest taken in the 
welfare of the sick of the regiment, in providing medicine from irreg- 
ular sources to supply the deficiency caused by the criminal neglect of 
those whose duty it was to provide a supply. 

The headquarters of the regiment remained at Austin during the re- 



260 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

mainder of their term of service. But detachments were stationed for 
a few weeks at a time at different county seats from the borders of the 
Indian Nation to the southern portion of the State, for the purpose of 
preser\'ing- order and assisting the civil officers in enforcing- civil law. 
during the session of their courts, which could only be done by the 
presence of Federal soldiers. 

By order of the War Depar-tment. Major (ieneral (.'uster and all his 
staff officers were discharged the service of the United States, on Feb- 
ruary 1st, 1H(5(3. and left Austin some time during the night of the 5th 
Our ex-commanding (Ieneral disclaimed being the originator of the 
cruel treatment of this division of veteran troops, the ti'uth of which 
no person seemed to doubt, but which only demonstrates the fact that 
all weak men will depend upon another for support, whether superior 
or inferior in position. 

On the loth day of February the First Iowa were ordered to be mus- 
tered out of service, and left on the 19th inst. for Davenport, where 
they arrived on the 13th day of March, where in three days after arriv- 
ing the entire regiment were dischai'ged. paid off. and dispersed for 
their homes to resume their peaceful avocations, after an absence of 
nearly five years' active campaigning in the service of their country. 

Lieutenant Henry L. Morrill, regimental Adjutant, is particularly 
deserving of honorable mention for his long and efficient services as an 
officer and soldier, and especially for the valuable aid in superintending 
the making out the final muster out papers of the regiment. 

On account of not having the regimental records at hand, many 
deeds of individual heroism which might with propi-iety be mentioned 
are omitted in this history. The number and the names of those be- 
longing to the regiment who died and were killed in battle have already 
been reported to your office, and 1 will tiaist to the pen of the future 
historian to speak so that their immolation will not be forgotten. 
Very respectfully yoiu- obedient servant. 

A. G. McQUEEN. 
Late Lt. Co/. Cwiudg. 1st loiva Cav. Vet. Vol.. 

<ind Brt. Col. U. 8. V. 

[Accompanying the above report is the following correspondence. 
&C.—A. a.) 

•Headquarters Second Cavalry Division, 

" September 4th, 1865. 
• • All men detailed as guards with ordnance train will have their 
horses with them. 

• By command of (Signed) L. W. Barnhart." 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 261 

• • I hereby certify that the above is a true and correct copy of the 
order sent me from headquarters Second Cavalry Division. 

"(Sig-ned,) Albert U. McCormick, 

•■Capt. Go. H. First Iowa Cavalri/." 

•Headquarters 2d Cav. Div.. M. D. G.. 

"Hempstead, Texas, September 7th, 1865. 
•Colonel Wm. Thompson, Govivianding Second Brigade: 

• • (Jolonel — The Major General commanding directs me to say to you 
that all the guards with the ordnance train will have their horses with 
them, as they can be taken care of better than with their regiments. 
The detail for the First Iowa called for their horses this morning, but 
the Captain (Captain McCormick) refuses to give the horses up on the 
Major General commanding the division's order, as I know of no 
authority less than General Sheridan. I refer the matter to you that 
this officer may be properly instructed in his simplest duties, and that 
the horses might be forthcoming immediately. 

■■ (Signed.) L. W. Barnhart. Major and Asst. Ad ft. Gen." 

• ' Headquarters 2d Brigade, 

••Hempstead. September 4th, 1865. 
■ ■ Respectfully refei-red to commanding officer First Iowa Cavalry. 
• • By order of Colonel Thompson. 

••(Signed.) H. L. Morrill. Lieut, and A. A. Gen." 

• Headqi;arters First Iowa C'avalry, 

•Hempstead, September 4th, 1865. 
•■Respectfully referred to Captain A. U. McCormick for his infor- 
mation. A. G. McQueen, 

•• Lt. Got. Gomdg. 1st loioa. Cavalry. 

•'Headquarters Co. H, 1st Iowa Cavalry, 

• • Hempstead, September 4th, 1865. 

• ■ Respectfully returned, with the remark that on the 2d inst. I re- 
ceived an order from Lieutenant Colonel McQueen to detail one corpo- 
ral and three men, •to report dismounted.' which I supjjosed was for 
temporary duty. This morning one of the men handed me a piece of 
paper with some writing on it, (a true copy of which I herewith attach,) 
on which he demanded the horses belonging to the detail. As I had 
no documentary evidence that it was proper for me to turn the horses 
over, I refused the demand. I have always endeavored to obey all 
orders from my superior officers, communicated to me in a proper man- 
ner ; but I did not consider the within paper sufficient voucher for me 



262 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

to deliver United States property for which I am responsible, as I have 
never been informed that • L. W. Barnhart' was the Major General 
commanding this division. A. U. McCormick, 

" (Signed,) Captain Co. H, Isi Iowa Cavalry.'' 

• ■ Headquarters 1st Iom^a Cavalry, 

'•Hempstead, Texas, September 4th, 1865. 
•' Respectfully returned, and special attention invited to the remarks 
of Captain McCormick, which are true, as the paper referred to was 
shown to me. and I advised Captain McCormick not to deliver the hor- 
ses on that document, believing it to be a forgery on the part of some 
person ignorant in military correspondence. 

• A. G. McQueen. 
•■ Lt. Col. 1st Iowa Car. Comdg.'' 

[I publish the following statement of General Custer, not as a matter 
of history, but in order that the facts submitted by Lieutenant Colonel 
McQueen may be fully understood. The time occupied in printing this 
report has enabled me to publish Lieutenant Colonel McQueen's valua- 
ble statement of facts, which follows that of General Custer ; also Gen- 
eral Forsyth's endorsement, and Surgeon Lothrop's contradiction there- 
of, although the three documents that follow (General C-uster's statement 
were not furnished until late in January. 1867. — A. G.'] 

GENERAL CUSTER'S STATEMENT. 

Headquarters 2d Division Cavalry, 
Military Division of the Gulf. October 26th, 1865. 
Major (iEORGE Lee, A. A. G. Mil. Div. of the Gulf: 

Major — I have the honor to submit the following report in regard to 
the case of Horace Cure, a private in Company M. First Iowa Cavali-y. 
referred to in a telegram from his P^xcellency. Governor Stone, of Iowa, 
to the Secretary of War. 

I would respectfully call your attention to a report forwarded by me 
a few days ago in a response to a communication from his Excellency, 
the Governor of Wisconsin. In that report I referred to the condition 
of the troops of the command as regards subordination and discipline, 
intending to show thereby that something beyond the ordinary course 
of procedure was absolutely necessary if I desired to insure order and 
good conduct in my command. Without repeating what I then stated, 
I will add that all of my former report applies equally well to the case 
referred to. 

Under instructions from the Major General commanding this military 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 263 

division. I proceeded in June last to Alexandria. Louisiana, to assume 
command of the following named regiments, viz : F'irst Iowa Cavalry. 
Second Wisconsin Cavalry. Fourth and Twelfth Illinois Cavalry, and 
Seventh Indiana Cavalry. These regiments had, prior to this time, 
been serving in Tennessee and other States farther north. A portion 
of them had preceded me to Alexandria, the others following soon after 
my arrival there. The conduct of these troops while at Alexandria was 
infamous, and rendered them a terror to the inhabitants of that locality, 
and a disgrace to this or any other service. Highway robbery was of 
frequent occurrence each day. Farmers bringing cotton or other pro- 
duce to town were permitted to sell it and then robbed in open daylight 
upon the streets of the town — -this. too. in the presence or view of other 
soldiers than those perpetrating these acts. 

No citizen was safe in his own home, either during the day or night. 
Bands of soldiers were constantly prowling about the surrounding 
country for a distance of twenty or thirty miles, robbing the inhabitants 
indiscriminately of whatever they chose, and not unfrequently these 
squads of soldiers who were so absent from camp, not only in violation 
of orders but of articles of war, were accompanied by officers. Upon 
two occasions, that I now remember, parties such as I refer to were led 
by officers belonging to the First Iowa Cavalry : one of the parties be- 
ing under the charge of the Adjutant of the regiment, and were tres- 
passing on the premises of a citizen nine miles from camp. The latter 
remonstrated against it ; the Adjutant seized a revolver belonging to a 
negro who accompanied the soldiers and threatened to blow the citizen's 
brains out if he dared to oppose them. 

Such instances were of almost daily occurrence. Had this misbe- 
havior been only chargeable to the enlisted men I could have corrected 
it by calling in the assistance of the officers, but unfortunately the offi- 
cers were the responsible parties. When not engaged with enlisted 
men in committing unlawful acts, they sanctioned such conduct when 
brought to their notice, and never to my knowledge did an officer of the 
command take a single step toward suppi-essing the disorder complained 
of, unless when acting under special instructions to do so. This may 
appear incredible, but is accounted for as follows : I found, upon 
assuming command of the above named regiments, that a feeling 
amounting almost to mutiny existed throughout the command, occa- 
sioned by their determined opposition to remain longer in the service, 
and particularly was this opposition heightened by an impression that 
they were to be required to go to Mexico, a measure that they would 



264 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

not consent to under any circumstances. They claimed that they had 
enlisted for the present war. that the war was over, and that they were 
entitled to their discharge from service. This was the univei'sal feeling 
among officers as well as men. Many openly stated their intention not 
to accompany the command on its proposed march to Texas, and large 
numbers of men did desert for this reason alone. It was also openly 
stated that if the Government determined to hold them in service, they 
would by their conduct compel their discharge. Actuated by these 
motives, in addition to the natural viciousness which is ever found 
among unrestrained soldiery, the disposition and conduct of these 
troops, as manifested daily, 'was such as to excite the deepest anxiety. 

I first appealed to the regimental commanders : referred them to 
such cases as wei'e brought to my notice — cases in which the perpetra- 
tors of wrong were members of the regiment of which the officer ad- 
dressed was the commander — urged them to correct the evils com- 
plained of and prevent their recurrence in futvu-e. In one instance I 
i-emember. I instructed one of the regimental commander's to the effect, 
if the complaints against his i^egiment, of thieving, etc., all of which 
were well founded, did not cease. I would relieve him and place an offi- 
cer in command who could and would conti-ol it. 

In no instance did my efforts in this direction succeed. The sympa- 
thies of the officers were so strongly in favor of the men that my ap- 
peals were fruitless. Officers would offer in extenuation such arguments 
as the following : ' • The boys think they ought to be allowed to go 
home, and if not allowed to go home they ought to have a little liberty.'" 
Meaning by ■ • liberty"" unrestrained permission to go where they pleased 
and rob whoever came in their way. Such at least was the pi-actical 
exercise of this "liberty."" I was powerless so far as I relied upon the 
regimental officers for co-operation to secure discipline, obedience, and 
proper regard for the rights of others. Under other circumstances I 
could have summoned a court martial for the trial of offenses such as I 
have named, but this would have been a mere mockery, and would have 
defeated the very aim it was intended to promote. I was located sev- 
eral hundred miles away from my next superior officer, with no means 
of immediate communication. Before instructions could have been 
asked for and received, it was expected that the expedition I was to 
command would move, and I then would be entirely cut off from com- 
munication with any other command until I had completed a march of 
hundreds of miles, and reached a new base in a different department. 
My instructions from the commanding (leneral were to treat the inhab- 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 265 

itants of the country with whom I was brought in contact with kind- 
ness and conciliation — to permit no foraging, to pay for all supplies 
of beef or gi-ain which it became necessary to take, to issue stringent 
orders which should prevent depredations or outrages being committed 
upon citizens by troops of my command. Under these circumstances, 
as I have related them above, actuated by the single desire to do my 
duty, carry out strictly the instructions of my commanding oflHcer. and 
to prevent and remove the disgrace which was daily attaching itself to 
the troops of my command. I issued the order referred to by his Excel- 
lency. Governor Stone — stating as a reason for so doing that a court 
martial would be impracticable while the command was on the march 
or in an unsettled state. The order was intended as only temporary, 
and to express my view of the punishment, a general court martial sit- 
ting in my command, of which Lieutenant Colonel McQueen. First Iowa 
Cavalry, was president, in the case of an enlisted man found guilty of a 
very serious oflfense. sentenced him, among other punishments, --to re- 
ceive twenty-five lashes well laid on," I returned the proceedings for 
revision, with the endorsement, ■ • that while there might be extreme 
cases in which a court martial would be impracticable, and in which 1 
would favor the administering of such pimishment, 1 did not deem it 
proper or legal for a court martial to prescribe it, when other modes 
were available and proper." 

The order referred to by his Excellency. (Governor Stone, has been 
rescinded in obedience to your direction. Practically, however, it has 
been without effect for a considerable period prior to the receipt of your 
order. 

In regard to the case of Private Horace C. Cure, Company M, First 
Iowa Cavalry. I would state that at a time when the commissary de- 
partment was furnishing the troops of this command with a full supply 
of the best beef. ])rivate Cure, in company with a Mexican, stole a val- 
uable beef from Dr. "Peebles. Collector of the port of (jalveston. drove 
it to the vicinity of camp, killed it. and taking a small portion for their 
own use, left the remainder on the ground. This was an offense which 
was being committed daily. No shadow of reason existed for such con- 
duct, for, whatever deficiencies existed in the commissary department, 
the supply of beef was always ample and of the best quality. Nothing 
but a desire to commit a wanton ovitrage could have prompted it. 'J'he 
usual excuse that the owners were rebels would not be true in this case. 
The owner was Dr. Peebles, who. according to my opinion, is a man 
whose sacrifice and personal suffering in defense of the (lovernment and 

34 



266 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

the Union have been greater than those of any other individual either 
North or South. The punishment was inflicted both upon private Cure 
and upon the Mexican, and had its intended effect, as no outrage of a 
similar character has been committed since. 

I will add in conclusion, that I have been in almost continuous com- 
mand of troops since the commencement of the war, frequently in much 
larger numbers than at present, and I never found it necessary or de- 
sirable to issue such orders as I have referred to, simply because I have 
never been in command of troops whose conduct, both as regards offi- 
cers and men, so nearly resembled that of a, mob as was the conduct of 
these troops when I assumed command of them. I am happy to say 
that to-day no better behaved regiments are included in the volunteer 
force than those now composing my command. 

As Brigadier General J. W. Forsyth, United States Volunteers, was 
the only general officer besides myself connected with the command 
during the period referred to above, and he being fully acquainted with 
all the facts stated herein, I resj^ectfully request that this paper may be 
referred to him for such remarks as he may make, verifying or refuting 
the statements I have made. 

(Signed.) G. A. GUSTEK. Major General. 

LT, GOL. MCQUEEN'S REPLY TO (tEN. GUSTER'S STATEMENT. 

Keokuk, Iowa, January 25th, 1867. 
(tENEKal N. B. Baker, Adjutant General of Iowa : 

General — I have the honor to submit the following statement in an- 
swer to the i'ei)ort made by Major Genei'al (i. A. Guster to headquarters 
Military Division of the Gulf, dated headquarters Second Division Gav- 
alry. Military Division of the Gulf, (Hempstead, Texas,) October 26th. 
1H65. in relation to the case of private Horace G. Gure, C-ompany M. 
First Iowa Gavalry. a copy of which was forwarded to me by Senator 
S, J. Kirkwood, through your office, for my answe*. 

This rejiort having been made officially by an officer of high rank in 
the military service of the United States, attaches more importance to 
it than it otherwise would have, and demands a more detailed state- 
ment from me on that account, especially as its author deems it neces- 
sary for him to review his whole administration in connection with his 
command, and indulge in wholesale denunciations against the- conduct 
and character of his division, which he is pleased to term • ■ infamous 
and mutinous."' The reputation of the regiment with which I was con- 
nected, as well as the honor of the State, compels me to make a defense 
against this unjust attack. Although I am no longer an officer in the 



HISTORY OF FIK.ST IOWA CAVALRY. 2«7 

employ of the military department of the Government^ my statement 
will be made with the same strict regard for truth and my own honor 
as though I was still in the military service, aa I hold myself responsible 
for whatever appears in this answer. 

Being ordered to remain at Memphis. Tennessee, and superintend 
the embarkation of all the troops of this di^Tsion on transports boimd 
for Alexandria. Louisiana. I cannot say from personal knowledge what 
transpired at the latter place after the advance of the troops arrived. 
until the 12th day of July. 1865. on which day I arrived with the la.^ 
of the division. On the 13th day of July I assumed command of the 
First Iowa Cavalry, and continued on that duty imtil the muster out of 
the regiment in March. 186fi. However, the regimental reports show 
that the advance of the First Iowa Cavalry arrived at Alexandria and 
r-eported to General Custer on the evening before special orders Xo. 2 
viere promulgated — which is known as the -whipping order" — so that 
the depredations complained, of could not have been committed by the 
First Iowa Cavalry, if committed at all — which is a question of doubt 
in my mind, except an isolated case. 

On arrival of a portion of the Second Wisconsin Cavalry at Alexan- 
dria, several days after special orders Xo. 2 were i-jsued. Sergeant L. 
L. I.Ancaster. of said regiment, did incite a mutiny against Lieutenant 
( olonel N. H. Dale, his superior officer, for reasons that transpired 
months before, for which Colonel Dale was tried by court martial, at 
ilemphis. Tennessee — a matter that had no reference whatever to the 
troops being retained in the service or their going to Mexico. This was 
the only instance of mutiny that came to my knowledge while connected 
with this command. 

On the 17th day of July a general court martial was convened at 
Alexandria, of which I was president, as fieneral Custer states, and be- 
fore which all officers and men were tried that were tried. I under- 
stand the oath contained in the 69th Article of War to be binding 
without limit, so far as disclosing the opinion of any member of a court 
martiaL which debars me from mentioning what transpired in said 
courL But it will certainly apx>ear very singular to any reflecting 
mind how Greneral Custer can charge this court with entertaining sym- 
pathies so strong Ln common with the enlisted men charged with the 
grossest crimes as to render their actions -mere mockery." and defeat- 
ing the very aim it was intended to promote, when he admits in his re- 
port tha the sentences passed by said court, composed of officers of his 
command, he deemed too severe and requested their mitigation- This 



268 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY, 

court continued in session at Alexandria until the 4th or 5th of August, 
and tried ten or twelve cases, and as it was on the eve of adjourning to 
meet at Hempstead. Texas, after the then contemplated march was com- 
pleted, rieneral Custer sent a message to this court, which he deemed 
a few weeks afterward a "mockery," thanking them in the most ear- 
nest and complimentary terms for their diligence and satisfactory dis- 
charge of their duties as a coui-t. On our arrival at Hempstead, Texas, 
owing to some of the members being absent, a new court was organized 
and every member of the late court present was re-detailed. This 
court continued in session at Hempstead and Austin until the Second 
Wisconsin ( Javalry officers were ordered away, at which time a new 
court was organized and all the remaining officers retained, 1 being re- 
tained still as president. This court remained convened until the case 
of Lieutenant C. C. Kauffman, First Iowa Cavalry, came before it. 
charged as follows, viz : 

"Charge — ("ondvict unbecoming an officer and gentleman. 

"Specification — In this, that Lieutenant C. C. Kaufifman, Company 
E. First Iowa ( 'avalry, did appear in the presence of the Major General 
commanding, and a party of ladies, in a state of gross intoxication. 
This at or near Hempstead. Texas. October 27th, 1865." 

These charges were drawn up by Major J. L. Greene, Assistant Ad- 
jutant General on Custer's staff and judge advocate for the court. To 
these charges Lieutenant Kauffman declined to plead for want of speci- 
fication. The case being referred to the court, it was decided that the 
judge advocate should i-evise the charges and state more specifically 
what the accused had done to render his conduct unbecoming an officer 
and gentleman, and the court adjourned until next day. 

I had not been in my quarters but a short time when I received an 
order disbanding the court, and another convening another, leaving oft' 
'A 'majority of the tneniher.^ of the fonner court. I among the number. 
Whether the coiu-t erred in this decision I am willing any man of ordi- 
nary intelligence should judge. This incident did not occ\ir for several 
weeks after General Custer's report was made. 

The charge that the officers, without exception, sanctioned the thiev- 
ing and robbing of which Custer complains, is too base and absurd to 
i-eceive much notice, being willing to let my character both in the army 
and citizen life speak for itself, as well as for the balance of the officers 
of the First Iowa Cavalry. But will simply say that General Custer 
never made any appeal or sent any complaint to me, or to any other offi- 
cer of the First Iowa Cavalry, so far as my knowledge extends, about the 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. '269 

regiment being unrestrained, or even lax in discipline in any way. 
Neither had I any intimation but that its conduct was entirely satisfac- 
tory, until I received a synopsis of Custer's report a few days after it 
was written, and even that through unofficial sources. Whatever of 
this charge may be true of other regiments, it does not apply to the 
First Iowa Cavalry. While in Alexandria the regiment was encamped 
about three miles from the village, where General Custer's headquar- 
ters were located, and over two miles from any other troops, and I do 
not remember of a single complaint being made to me, as regimental 
commander, or to any other person, of any depredations being commit- 
ted on either the person or property of any citizen, notwithstanding 
the people residing in the surrounding country brought produce into 
camp daily for sale. 

There were thi'ee planters residing within twenty rods of our camp, 
and many others not far distant, and in all my conversation with those 
planters, not one of them ever expressed any fears as to the safety of 
their persons or property, either by day or night. 

(4eneral Custer calls to mind two instances where parties were led 
by officers of the First Iowa Cavalry through the country on plundei*- 
ing expeditions, and one of these parties under charge of the Adjutant 
of the regiment, and while trespassing on the premises of a citizen nine 
miles from camp. etc. 

The Adjutant (Henry L. Morrill) had my permission to go into 
the country to purchase some peaches, which I was empowered to 
grant, and took with him four or five of the enlisted men on duty at 
regimental headquarters. While out they came near the premises of 
one Walter Graham, a wealthy citizen, a graduate of the Military Acad- 
emy at West Point, and lately an officer in the Confederate ai'my, who. 
in company with his son, armed with a gun, made an attack on two sol- 
diers who crossed the bayou and got into an uncultivated enclosure, 
threatening to shoot them, etc. The Adjutant, from the opposite side 
of the bayou, told them that those soldiers were under his charge, at 
which Graham used very abusive language, and leveling a pistol at the 
Adjutant threatened to shoot him, etc. A colored servant with the 
party, being the only person of the number that was armed, gave the 
Adjutant a revolver, when he ordered Graham to drop his pistol "or 
he would blow his bi-ains out." This order Graham obeyed, and the 
Adjutant crossed the bayou, ari-ested Graham, and was taking him to 
Custer's headquarters. Graham complaining of sickness, was permit- 
ted to remain at the first house, with the promise that he should report 



270 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

at five o'clock that evening. The Adjutant proceeded direct and re- 
ported to General Custer, who gave him an order -to me to send an offi- 
cer and a detail of soldiers to bring Graham to his headquarters imme- 
diately, which was done, and while Graham was at my headquarters 
admitted the facts as above stated to be correct, justifying himself upon 
the ground that no man had any right on his grounds. By General Cus- 
ter's request the Adjutant made a statement in writing and sent it vrith 
the sworn statements of the enlisted men to his headquarters. I never 
heard anything more about the case until I saw the perversion of facts 
in General Custer's report. It is not very probable that a party of sol- 
diers would go into the country on a plundering expedition wholly un- 
armed, and when a citizen would remonstrate with them be the first to 
report the facts to the highest authority. 

As to the other party mentioned. I never heard of it. and do not be- 
lieve that ever any such party' was out from the First Iowa Cavah-y. or 
I as regimental commander would have known of it. I have known 
Adjutant Morrill for the last six yeai-s, having served under me as a 
private soldier and non-commissioned officer in Company A, and I can 
say that nothing can be inore inconsistent with the disposition and 
character of this officer than this charge of General Custer, as he has 
always shown himself to be a high-toned gentleman, both as an officer 
and soldier, and at this time no citizen in the community in which he 
resides is more honored and respected than he is. 

I admit that some dissatisfaction did exist in the First Iowa Cavalry 
about being retained in the service after serving over four yeai's. But 
I do most emphatically deny that it developed itself in the manner 
General Custer charges, or to any extent to cause alarm. I cannot 
speak advisedly as to other regi7iients. but such was not my impression 
at the time. 

The next night after special orders No. '2 were promulgated fourteen 
of the First Iowa Cavalry did desert the service, on account of said 
order not allowing them opportunity of defense in case of accusation, 
and being too sensitive about the disgrace to which they were subjected. 
Four others, who were on detached duty, deserted while on the march 
from Alexandria, on account of their horses being taken from them 
without just cause, and they required to march on foot, which are all 
that deserted from the First Iowa. In this connection I would refer 
you to my repoi^t made to your office last July, and desire to make it 
a part of this answer. (See ante. — A. O.) 

Again : General Custer states that he was located hundreds of miles 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 271 

from his next superior officer, without means of immediate communi- 
cation, etc. During: a period of forty-seven days this command re- 
mained at Alexandria, both private and Government transports leaving 
daily, and it only required forty-eight hours to make the trip to New 
Oi'leans and back, and officers passed backward and forward fre- 
quently. So much for this statement. 

In regard to the case of private Horace Cure. C'ompany M. First 
Iowa Cavalry. General Custer makes a very singular misstatement of 
facts. Private Cure was not charged with killing the beef spoken of, 
but because he would not tell who brought some fresh beef into the 
camp of a wagon train of which he was a teamster, he had his head 
shaved and received twenty-five lashes on the back. Seven men of the 
Twelfth Illinois Cavalry, and five men of the Seventh Indiana Cavalry, 
received similar treatment a few days before Cure was punished, for 
killing said beef of Dr. Peebles. Whether private Cure knew who 
brought the beef there I am unable to state, as he was not allowed a 
trial or any opportunity for defense. 

The First Iowa t'avalry protested against this barbarous and inhu- 
man jjunishment. in a mild and respectfvil manner, but not receiving 
satisfaction were compelled to call on the State authointies to intercede 
in our behalf, which is the cause of the regiment being singled out by 
the author of this slanderous report to justify his own unwise and ille- 
gal conduct. 

The full rations of fresh beef were generally issvied at this time, but 
not any more than the legal ration of beef, while all other rations were 
damaged and unfit for use, especially the hard bread, which was full of 
worms and bugs. I have seen the soldiers at this time compelled to 
rob theii- horses of part of their rations of corn and spend a greater 
poilion of the night in boiling and parching it to get enough to appease 
their hunger. {Unlisted men whom I knew well in citizen life came to 
me imploring for relief, saying they were actually becoming weak and 
emaciated from starvation, • • and would be glad to eat what their fath- 
ers fed to their dogs.'' This was not said to me in a captious spirit of 
mutiny, but imploring for relief, which I was unable to render. 

Being somewhat incensed at the outrages perpetrated upon the en- 
listed men. I wrote a letter to General Custer, a copy of which can be 
seen on the regimental letter book, stating plainly but candidly our 
condition — which I had done on two occasions before, in my report as 
Field Officer of the Day. This letter bears date four or five days prioi' 
to the killing of D)-. Peebles' beeves by the Twelfth Illinois and Seventh 



273 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

Indiana. (See my report of July last on the subject of rations at this 
time. ) 

In the language of General Ouster, • • I have been in command of 
troops almost continuously since the commencement of the war, fre- 
quently in much larger numbers than at present." I have also filled 
positions on the staffs of general officers, from Assistant Adjutant Gen- 
eral to Chief of Staff, in cases of tempoi'ary necessity, and acted as Sen- 
ior Assistant Inspector General of Cavalry for the Military Division of 
West Mississippi for eight months, and I can say that I never saw 
troops so badly managed and provided for, both in regard to outfit and 
rations, as this division of cavalry was while it remained under the 
command of General Custer, or such a lack of common sense in orders 
and in the exercise of discipline, as was displayed by its commander. 
I do not make the above assertion in passion, or unaware of what 
might be the consequences, as I am prepared to prove what is here set 
forth. For fear that it may be charged against me that I make asser- 
tions without cause. I beg permission to say, in addition to what is said 
in my report of j^ast July, that regimental commanders were not per- 
mitted to exercise their own judgment in disciplining their regiments. 
For instance : A few days after the division arrived at Hempstead, 
some enlisted men who were acting as hostlers for General Custer made 
up a horse race between General Custer's horse ■ ■ Jack Rucker " and a 
United States horse in the Fii-st Iowa Cavalry. Horse racing being a 
practice I never permitted, either as a company or regimental com- 
mander. I endeavored to stop this race, and would have done so but for 
an order issued by General Custer allowing it to come off, and at the 
same time granting permission to all soldiers to attend the race, so that 
it was only by request that soldiers could be had to remain and guard 
the camp. 

General Custer himself always appeared on the race track as chief 
manager, and generally dressed in the uniform of a private soldier or 
citizen acting (jiardon the expression) the ■ ■ bohoy" among the boys ; and 
("aptain James D. Earl, Chief Commissary of Subsistence on General 
Custer's staff, rode Custer's horse, while a private soldier of the First 
Iowa Cavalry rode the other — an act which, if an officer of the First Iowa 
Cavalry had been guilty of, would have relieved him of his sword im- 
mediately at any time previous to joining General Custer's command ; 
and. in one instance. I saw General Custer ride his hoi'se through him- 
self. In another instance General Custer got up a race between these 
two horses himself — and to my own discredit let it be said that, by re- 




SBrgt, B, s, WDnnwARn 



COMPANY B. 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 273 

quest of General Custer, I held the stakes, two thousand dollars, know- 
ing that a large portion of this money belonged to the enlisted men of 
the First Iowa Cavalry. 

Again : There were over three hundred men of the First Iowa Cav- 
alry detailed on duty at Custer's headquarters, and to my own personal 
knowledge I knew of a number of these men to be used as officers' ser- 
vants, and as follows, viz : • ■ Nick " Morris. Company L, A. Osborn 
and James Calder, Company A, attending to General Custer's race 
horses, and getting up races with soldiers and citizens ; Sergeant For- 
tune and Corporal James, Company A, peeping a lager beer saloon in 
a Dutch bakery in the city of Austin ; • ■ Johnny " Clark. Company C, 
keeping a whisky saloon in Austin — who furnished him the money I 
know not, but it is certain he did not have enough of his own ; Corporal 
Morris Granger, Company K, M. Klein. C'ompany F. and three others, 
playing the violin at parties, etc. These soldiers generally dressed in 
citizens' dress. When I would reprove them for such conduct, they 
would show me a copy of General Custer's order detailing them as • • or- 
derlies " at division headquarters, etc. There were others on similar 
duty, but their names are forgotten. When General Custer was about 
leaving Austin, after being mustered out of the service, he gave some 
of these soldier saloon keepers, etc., furloughs to remain in the city 
of Austin for sixty days, dating the furloughs back to the last day he 
was. an officer, so that I could not order them back to the regiment im- 
mediately. Before some of them would even report back 1 was com- 
pelled to detail a guard and bring by force they supposing their fur- 
loughs were valid. 

I have also seen some of these enlisted men. by cunning speech and 
preconcerted plan, get up and run jockey races with General Custer's 
horses with negroes, and General Custer's father and Major Thomas 
('uster, the (xeneral's brother and Aid-de-Camp, on the track managing 
the races. There were race tracks on all sides of our camp, both at 
Hempstead and Austin, and almost every day one or more of General 
Custer's horses would be on some of them, and if the General was not 
along himself, some of his staff officers would be and assume the su- 
pervision. Let me here state that these staff officers were not chosen 
from the regiments of this division. 

(ieneral Custer closes his report by requesting that • ■ it might be 
sent to Brigadier (ieneral J. W. Forsyth for such remarks as he may 
make, verifying or refuting the statements he has made." which request 
was complied with. A copy of these remarks I received through un- 

35 



!274 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

official sources, and the only answer I have to make to it is, that it is 
too silly to merit notice. 

He says that he could not get the men to wear pants, etc. I will say 
why : Because they did not have them, notwithstanding monthly esti- 
mates were handed in promptly and regularly, but never in any instance 
filled. Quite a number of the First Iowa Cavalry had their pants worn 
off from the knee down, and in many instances almost entirely bootless 
and shirtless. I remember of giving in one instance the only extra paii* 
of pants I had to a soldier to cover his nakedness, and when we got a 
scanty supply of clothing it was through the generosity of Colonel S. D. 
Sturgis, Sixth United States Cavalry, who arrived at Austin with six 
months' supply for his own regiment. 

Much more might be said, but this is sufficient to show how affairs 
stood in the division ; also to show how inconsistent General Custer's 
report is with absolute facts. 

My apology for making this lengthy statement is to show that this 
officer, who indulges so freely in classifying the officers and men com- 
posing this division, without exception, as ■•thieves." ••robbers," and 
a -mob.'' is unworthy of credit, and has dishonored the high position 
to which he was elevated, by pei'verting facts, to excuse himself in his 
unwise conduct, over his own signature. 

Notwithstanding (ieneral C'uster's defamatory i-eport, 1 am warranted 
in saying that not a single man that ever was connected with the organ- 
ization but who is to-day proud to point to its stainless record of over 
four and a half years" service, and saying that he belonged to the First 
Iowa ( 'avalry. I invite the testimony of any officer of the First Iowa 
Cavalry, •to verify or refute the statements I have here made." Also 
that of Colonel N. H. Dale. Second Wisconsin Cavalry. General J. P. C. 
Shanks, late Colonel Seventh Indiana Cavalry, now member elect of 
the Fortieth Congress of the United States from the State of Indiana, 
Colonel H. B. Dox. Twelfth Illinois Cavah^y. or any other officer or 
soldier conversant with the history of this division while it was under 
the command of Major General t-uster. 

My post office address is Keokuk. Lee county, iowa, where I have 
established myself in business, and hold myself prepared to prove any 
assertion made in this answer. 

I have the honor to be. very respectfully. 
Your obedient servant, 

A, G. McQUEEN, 
Late Lt. Col. 1st Iowa Cavalry. 

and Brevet Brig. Oev. V. S. V. 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 275 

[1 also here insert General Forsyth's endorsement, so that Surgeon 
Lothrop's statement can be well understood. — A. 0-1 

GENERAL FORSYTH'S ENDORSEMENT. 

Inspector General's Department, 
Headquarters Mil. Div. of the Gulf, 

New Orleans. La., November 28th, 1865. 

Respectfully returned. I commanded a brigade of cavalry under 
Major General Custer, joining him at Alexandria about the 12th of July 
last. I fully concur in all that General Custer says as to the discipline 
of the command. 

Robbery, plundering and murdering was of daily occurrence, and 
nearly the entire division was in open mutiny. 

In one regiment, the Second Wisconsin Cavalry, the men, advised 
by their officers, did attempt to drive off their commanding officer. 
Lieutenant Colonel Dale. They ordered him to take a boat then at the 
levee and leave the command, and that they would give him a certain 
time to do it in. They also stated they intended to send Custer off also, 
and if he did not go quietly they would make him go or throw him in 
the river. The commissioned officers as a general thing had no control 
over the men : in fact they (the enlisted men) did about what they 
pleased. It was with the greatest difficulty that they could be made to 
weai- any clothing. When I joined, large numbers of the men were 
riding horses abovit the country, and to water, with nothing on their 
persons but a pair of drawers and an undershirt, and a chip or straw 
hat. In this disgusting way they rode thi-ough the streets of Alexan- 
dria. A lady could not appear on the streets. 

They deserted, stealing the best horses from the command, and 
formed guerrilla bands, plundering, stealing and murdering thi'ough to 
the Mississippi. 

The condition of affairs was at one time so bad. and the men so open 
in their mutinous spirit, that a number of enlisted men got frightened 
on account of the threats made in several regiments to take the life of 
General Custer, atid they came at night and posted themselves as a 
guard for his protection, at his (General Custer's) private headquarters, 
without his knowledge. This occurred when the command first arrived 
at Alexandria. I had to send a guard of picked men from my brigade 
to the Second Wisconsin Cavalry and kept it from deserting eii masse. 
These deserters, when they reached home, were mustered out. paid, 
etc.. etc.. and wrote back to their comrades that Government had no 
right to keep them, and that if the regiment was not mustered out they 



276 HISTORY or first IOWA CAVALRY. 

ought to desert. The Provost Marshal of the State, the (xovernor. and 
every one wrote to the same effect to these men. 

With reference to General Custer's order whilst I was with the com- 
mand, I have simply to say that he made a great mistake. Instead of 
whipping he should have shot. 

The people at home, who have written to and received these thieves 
and deserters with open arms, are the only persons to blame for all this 
trouble, which has not only reflected on their State but the whole vol- 
unteer army. 

Whilst en route for Texas, 1 dismounted a Lieutenant belonging to 
the First Iowa Cavalry for straggling, in compliance with General Cus- 
ter's orders, and made him walk five miles. The commanding officer of 
the other brigade. Colonel Thompson, said openly in the presence of 
his command that "he could not control his brigade," and that he 
thought or expected there would be a fight between his brigade and 
mine. Colonel Thompson is the C!olonel of the regiment that Governor 
Stone asks to be mustered out. 

I had in my brigade a number of fine officers, whom it is impossible 
to name, and who did theii- duty fi-om first to last. 

(Signed, ) JAMES W. FORSYTH. 

Hric/ddier General and Asst. Inspector General. 

AFKIDAVrrs ACCOMPANYING ABOVE. 
State of Iowa, / 

V ,r>.s'. 

Clinton County. ) 

I, Charles H. l.,othr()p. late Surgeon First Iowa C'avalry, do, upon 
oath, state that the foregoing report of Brigadier General James W. 
Forsyth, above named, is a ti'ue copy of a true copy of said original 
report. CHARLES H. LOTHROP. 

The foregoing affidavit was signed by said Lothrop in my presence, 
and by him sworn to before me. the undersigned, a notary public in 
and for said county, this 81st day of January. A. D. 1867. 

[L. S.] Witness my hand and notarial seal by me hereto affixed. 
(6 ct. R. stamp. ) ROBER T T. T. SPENCE, 

( R. T. T. S. ) »T , D /,7- 

) T 1 Miar^ i Notary fublic. 

( Jan. .11. IHfi/. ) ^ 

State of Iowa, ) 

■ S.S-. 

Clinton Cottnty, S 

T. (Charles Henry Lothrop. late Surgeon First Regiment Iowa Cav- 
alry, do upon oath state that many of the statements in said report, of 
which the foregoing "is a copy, are false to my personal knowledge. 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 277 

The statement made in relation to the straggling of a Lieutenant of the 
First Iowa Cavalry I believe to be false. Captain Hosford, of Company 
G, infoi-med me that he ordered his Lieutenant back to the ambulances 
to ascertain if a sick man who had been left alone beside the road, in 
accordance with General Custer's inhuman order, had been taken in by 
the ambulance corps. Having attended to that duty, he was quietly 
making his way (in the road) to his regiment again, when he was dis- 
mounted and ordered to walk five miles. 

The statement in relation to' Colonel Thompson I believe to be false. 
Colonel Thompson made no such statement, if the different members of 
his staflf can be relied upon for truth and veracity. 

CHARLES H. LOTHROP. 

The foregoing affidavit was signed by said Lothrop in my presence, 
and by him sworn to before me, the undersigned. Notary Public in and 
for said Clinton county, this 31st day of Jaunary, A. D. 1867. 

[L. S.] Witness my hand and notarial seal by me affixed. 

(5 ct. R. Stamp,) ROBERT T. T. SPENCE, 



( R. T. T. S. ) 

(Jan. 31. 1867. ) 



Notary Public. 



CUSTER'S CRUELTY. 

(Special to the Chicago Times.) 

Cedar Rapids. Iow^a, February 3d, 1886. 

•• We were in Northern Alabama at the close of the war when orders 
were received calling troops north for discharge. '" said ex-Marshal 
Francis, of this city. ■ • When we reached Memphis the boys were in 
good spirits. We had drawn little pay. and upon discharge each pri- 
vate was to receive about $500. including bounty money. Through the 
long, weary marches and the many trials of soldier life, strong friend- 
ships had formed, and now that the war was ended, and we were to 
separate in a few days, never again to meet as a military body, never 
again to live over those experiences which had made us a band of 
brothers, the future of each seemed the concern of all, and plan-making 
was mutual. We were all heartily glad the end of the bloody contest 
had come, yet loth to separate. 

■ • Shortly after our arrival at Memphis, an order was issued creating 
three divisions of cavalry, nine regiments each, for the southwest cam- 
paign, under (renerals Custer. Torbert and Merritt. Our regiment, 
with eight others, rendezvoused at Alexandria, Louisiana, under Gen- 
eral Custer. We had gone through the war, had camped in Missouri 
with a foot of snow on the ground, had lain down in the mud in Arkan- 



278 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

sas at night-time to find ourselves frozen to the earth next morning ; 
we had wrestled with vermin in Southern trenches, and doubled up on 
the discomforts of cold and the pangs of hunger ; but until after the 
war had ceased and we entered Custer's division, the real hardships of 
camp life had never stared us in the face. Despite the fact that to de- 
sert was to forfeit one's pay and honorable discharge, numbers of the 
boys, rather than submit to the rigors of camp life in Alexandria, left 
under cover of darkness on their lonely journey northward. When a 
deserter was captured he was tied to his coffin and shot, although the 
army regulations forbade this punishment in time of peace. While we 
were lying at Alexandria without pay. an orderly sergeant of the Sec- 
ond Wisconsin drew up a petition asking the Colonel of that regiment 
to resign, that the Lieutenant Colonel might be promoted before being 
mustered out of service. The orderly was called up before Custer's 
court and tried on charge of mutiny, convicted, and sentenced to be 
executed along with three deserters. The four men were blindfolded, 
placed upon their coffins, and the firing squad drawn up, when Custer 
held consultation with Captain Moore, one of his staff, who walked to 
the coffin of the orderly, untied the cords, and led the prisoner out of 
range, (xeneral Custer had been notified by the Second Wisconsin 
Regiment that in case of the execution of the orderly himself and staff 
would be slaughtered, and had the sentence been carried out Gen- 
eral Custer would never have lived to torture his command as he did 
on the march to the Rio Grande. The mutinous orderly was sentenced 
to the Dx"y Tortugas for life, but released at New Orleans on order of 
the President. 

■ ' When about to begin the march westward from Alexandria, sol- 
diers were ordered to report in ranks with coats buttoned, and to carry 
carbine, revolver, seventy rounds of cartridges, and saber. The tem- 
perature was about 120 degrees, and there wasn't a rebel in the land. 
When the division reached a narrow bridge that had to be crossed sin- 
gle file, Custer and staff stood on either side the line with sabers drawn, 
and where a soldier overcome with heat had fastened his carbine, re- 
volver or sword to the saddle, they clipped it off and let it fall into the 
sti'eam. The arms were chax^ged to the soldier, and of course there was 
an actual money loss to him of that amount. We marched forty miles 
a day in the sun. The beef cattle followed and were eaten next morn- 
ing before daybreak. The flesh fairly crawled after cooking, and put 
the soldiers in a condition unfit for the march. Plenty of beef might 
have been picked up along the line. Foraging was strictly forbidden 



■ HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 279 

in a special order, on penalty of shaved head and twenty-five lashes. 
The conclusion of this infamous order read something- like this : • Owing 
to the delay of court martial proceedings orderlies are charged with the 
execution of this order.' Many a poor fellow I have seen with head 
shaved to the scalp, tied to a wagon wheel and whipped like a dog. for 
stealing a piece of fresh meat or a peach from an orchard by the way- 
side. Search of camp was made every morning, and woe to the un- 
lucky regiment which left evidences of foraging. One member of our 
i-egiment wrote letters to Noi'thern newspapers complaining of the 
treatment received at the hands of Custer and the young staff officers 
that influenced him. Every effort was made to discover the identity of 
the correspondent, but in vain. In 1867, however, when Custer was 
court martialed at Leavenworth and relieved of command and pay for a 
year, that correspondent, in the person of Dr. Lothrop, who now lives 
at Lyons, Iowa, proved one of the strongest witnesses of Custer's 
cruelty,"" 

STATEMENT SENIOR SURGEON BRIGADE, 

Nothing less than a sense of justice to living comrades would justify 
me in bringing into public review the unfortunate personalities and 
shortcomings of a deceased officer, who had won some honorable dis 
tinction in the command of dashing squadrons. There are times when 
to state convictions and speak plainly of dead men's faults becomes a 
sad duty to good men living, and the history of the period, 

I, M, P, Hanson, of Milwaukee. Wisconsin, was Surgeon of the Sec- 
ond Wisconsin Cavalry, one of the regiments that made up General G. 
A. Custer's command on the exjiedition from Alexandi'ia, Louisiana, to 
Austin, Texas, in the summer and fall of 1865, and I had occasion to 
observe General Custer's ability and lack of ability to fill so large a 
place. 

I have but recently read General Custer's report of that expedition 
to the War Department, and General Forsyth's very extravagant en- 
dorsement, with mingled feelings of surprise and indignation. 

That report is false in many particulars, and utterly false as a gen- 
eral statement of any condition that ever existed in the command, and 
evidently grew out of the necessity there was for the parties to justify 
and excuse a disgracefvil administration of the command. 

General Custer's personalities were such as to beget in the line offi- 
cers and men anything but confidence and respect. Seeming to realize 
the fact that he was too small for the place, he was over-jealous of the 
ceremonies due the position. He was arbitrary and ever cruel in his 



280 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

disclipine. By his arrangement of the court he got three men sen- 
tenced to be shot, after the rebels had surrendered, and war the was 
over, and he was commanding only an army of occupation. Two men 
from the Seventh Indiana for desertion, and one from our regiment, for- 
a little drunken wordy mutiny against our Colonel, N. H. Dale, (now 
dead, ) who thought little of the event and gave himself no rest until 
sentence was commuted, and the soldier was finally pardoned, but the 
liarbarous sentence was carried out to the execution of the Indiana men. 

General Custer's ordering of the march thi'ough the three hundred 
miles of pine forest from the western borders of Louisiana, to Hemp- 
stead, Texas, were unnecessarily rigid and severe, and even cz'uel to 
our sick men. The best ambulance teams were taken to transport the 
(ieneral's camp equipage, staff and hunting dogs, while sick men were 
transported on unloaded provision wagons without springs. 

And at Hempstead the ambulances were corralled at headquarters, 
two miles from the camp of the brigade, and no Surgeon could get an 
ambulance to move a sick soldier, or air a convalescent, or bring bread 
to the hospital from Hempstead village two miles away, without the 
formality of a requisition and eight miles' extra travel for his orderly, 
while the ambulances were being used every day to transport hunting 
dogs and to bring in any blooded hound that could be heard of within 
twenty miles. 

General Custer made himself very acceptable to the ex-rebels by in- 
justice to his command, while his lack of personal dignity and good 
sense made him contemptible as Major General. 

Milwaukee. October 31st, 1890. M. P. HANSON. M. D. 

Butte City, Montana. September 21st, 1890. 
(Generals Custer's and Forsyth's statements are absolutely false so 
far as the First Iowa is concerned. We had no insubordination, but 
very few deserters, and we did receive outrageous treatment from first 
to last. J. D. JENKS, 

Late Major 1st Iowa Car. Vet. Vol. 

An injustice could not be more palpable, nor could an infamy be 
more damnable, than an untruthful statement such as the foregoing, 
made in justification of a course so brutal, reflecting as it does on the 
character of honorable men and soldiei-s. It has since been demon- 
strated that the author, in having been permitted to exercise the pre- 
rogative of a Major General, either through a lack of judgment or an 
act of rashness, led to death in the valley of the Big Horn the unfortu- 
nate officers and men under his command. We feel as though we 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 281 

should be eluiritable now that he is dead. There was no act of a sol- 
dier calling- for such punishment as shaving- a soldier's head, requiring 
men to walk in a circle in the sun, carry rails, etc. Neither was such 
punishment as inflicted sanctioned by the regulations of the army. 
The valor, integrity and soldierly conduct of officers and men of the 
First Regiment of Iowa Cavah'y had never been previous to this time, 
or has never since, been spoken of in any other than in words of praise 
and commendation. To a fallen foe a more magnanimous soldier was 
never known. 

Personally. Major General Geo. A. C'uster and Brigadier General 
Jas. A. Forsyth treated me with marked courtesy and kindness. 
I have the honor to be. &c.. H. S. HEBERLING, 

Late Co. B, M la. Cav. Vet. Vol.. 
Ami). Officer and Actg. Asst. Q. M. 2d Cav. JJiv., M. D. G. 
and Pres. 1st. la. Cav. V. V. ^.s.s'w. 

(The reader will note Captain Heberling was ambulance officer — - 
which perhaps explains the unusual courtesy. — V. L.) 

Department of P(^lice, 
Cedar Rapid.s. Iowa, October 12th, 1889. 
Chas. H. Lothrop, M. D.. late Surgeon 1st Iowa Cavalry: 

Dear Sir and Comrade — Replying to yours of October 10th concern- 
ing the command of General G. A. Custer from June, 1865. to February. 
1866. I can add but little to what Colonel McQueen has so ably said in 
his report to the Adjutant General of Iowa, part of which you will un- 
doubtedly include in the record. I have carefully read and digested 
the report of General Custer to (Jeneral Sheridan, then commanding 
the Military Division of the Gulf, under date of October 26th. 1865. I 
can hardly conceive of a report containing more misstatements, or in 
plainer language, lies, than appear in the one referred to. I had the 
honor to serve as a private soldier in the First Iowa Cavalry, an honor 
untarnished by the language used by General Custer in his report re- 
ferred to. It was the foi'tune of our regiment during its long term of 
service to be commanded by gentlemen as well as brave men. and never 
once during the nearly five years did we receive one word of censure 
from a commanding officer until such was received from Generals Cus- 
ter and Forsyth. Again, why was it thought necessary by General 
( 'uster to bring staff officers from the army of the Potomac to command 
a division of western troops ? Other commanding Generals selected 
their staffs from their commands. General Custer, in his report, refers 

to Colonel A. G. McQueen in language very uncomplimentary to the 
36 



282 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

latter. What can I say in justice to Colonel McQueen ? Every man 
in the First Iowa t-avalry had nothing but words of praise for Colonel 
McQueen. Every commanding officer under whom we ever served ap- 
preciated his work. He was known by all as a brave soldier, a Chris- 
tian gentleman, and a strict disciplinarian but no tyrant ; a man whom 
bi-ief authority did not hurt, a friend of the private soldier, a man and 
soldier whom General Custer found could see to the welfare of his I'egi- 
ment, notwithstanding the brutal orders received by him from division 
headquarters. This division commanded by General Custer were all 
veteran regiments from Wisconsin. Illinois and Indiana. — live regiments 
selected by General Sheridan, after a revietv of all the cavalry in the 
vjest. to fo7-m an ■ ' army of observation, and had the misfortune to be 
placed under command of General Custer, and after being submitted to 
the most brutal and cowardly treatment ever experienced by any com- 
mand, were designated by the commanding General as "thieves and 
highway robbei-s. guilty of the most infamous conduct,'' etc., etc.: 
branding our officers with conduct equally as bad as that with which he 
charged the men under their command. The commanding General 
says the men and officers were committing depredations in violation of 
the articles of wai-. Even if this were true, which I deny. (General 
(lister himself, in direct violation of the laws of the United States and 
against the army regulations, caused soldiers to be brutally whipped 
on the bare back, and applied the razor to their heads, a disgrace 
greater than death to the volunteer soldier — many of the victims of his 
cruelty being men who were the best of soldiers, good and respected 
citizens at home, yet without the semblance of law. and with no oppor- 
tunity afforded them for defense, this commanding General disgraced 
them. Wi\^ it not a wonder that Sitting Bull was ever afforded the 
opportunity in the mountains of the Little Big Horn ? This fact speaks 
for itself. These men had served their country well for four years : 
had followed the flag, led by brave and humane officers, through four 
years of bloodshed and suffering ; and were subjected by this monster. 
after peace had been declared by the President, to such inhuman ti-eat- 
ment as was a disgrace to the service as well as the victims. General 
Cluster condemns himself o\\% of his own mouth. He says in his report. 
• • The order was intended as only temporary, and that a court martial 
would have defeated the very object for which it was intended. "" May 
I ask. then, by what authority did he inflict such punishment, when 
Congress at the outbreak of the war abolished whipping in the army? 
His assault u])on Adjutant Morrill has been fully met by Colonel Mc- 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 283 

Queen in his report to General Baker, and at the time by General 
Thompson, who. when he assumed command of the Second Brig-ade, 
promoted Adjutant Morrill as A. A. General. 

Others better able than myself have replied to this report of General 
Custer, yet I cannot refrain from paying my respects to this man, who 
during- his brief authority attempted to disgrace five veteran regiments, 
the flower of the Western cavalry service. 

I remain fraternally yours. P. H. FKANGIS. 

Late of B Co-nipany , 1st Iowa Cavalry. 

I. Albert U. McCormick. do solemnly swear that I was Captain of 
(^'Ompany H, First Iowa Cavalry, and was present and in command of 
my company while the regiment was under the command of General 
George A. Custer, commanding Second Division Cavalry, Military Di- 
vision of the Gulf, during the summer and fall of 1S66, and while I 
hesitate to contradict the statements of one who has passed beyond the 
point where he could be heard, in his own behalf, yet I feel that justice 
to the brave men. living and dead, of out- regiment, demands that some- 
thing should be said in their defense. 

I have carefully read the statement made by General Custer in his 
letter addressed to Major General Lee, A. A. General. Military Division 
of the Gulf, of date October 26th. 1865. in regard to the conduct of our 
regiment and the other regiments composing his command, in which he 
asserts that "highway robbery by the soldiery of this command was of 
frequent daily occurrence.'' that •• no citizen was safe in his own home." 
that • • bands of soldiers were constantly prowling about the surrounding 
country for a distance of twenty or thirty miles, robbing the inhabitants 
indiscriminately of whatever they chose"; that -upon two occasions 
that I now remember parties were led by officers of the First Iowa Cav- 
alry, one of the parties being under the charge of the Adjutant of the 
regiment, and were tr-espassing on the premises of a citizen nine miles 
from camp. The latter remonstrated against it : the Adjutant seized a 
revolver belonging to a negro who accompanied the soldiers and threat- 
ened to blow the citizen's brains out if he dared to oppose them." 

The foregoing is quoted from the report of General Custer and is 
false in every particular statement. 

I very well remember the incident of Adjutant General Morrill hav- 
ing trouble with a citizen near Alexandria, Louisiana. The circum- 
stances were about this way : Our regiment was lying in camp, doing 
nothing except routine camp duty, and it was very monotonous. So 
one Sunday morning Adjutant Morrill obtained from Colonel McQueen, 



284 HISTORY or first IOWA CAVALRY. 

commanding the regiment, permission to go out in the country for rec- 
reation, taking with him two of the enlisted men of the regiment, who 
I think were orderlies at regimental headquarters, and also the Adju- 
tant's colored servant. So peaceful were the thoughts and intents of 
this little party, that none of them deemed it necessary to even carry 
their arms, except the colored servant, who had a revolver. During 
their meandering they came to the plantation of an old man. whose 
name I have forgotten, and of that fact I am not sorry : and as the day 
was hot they halted at the house to get a drink of water, but before 
they had dismounted, or even entered the yard, the old man and his 
boy came out, each armed with a gun, and ordered them to leave. Ad- 
jutant Morrill took the revolver out of his sei'vant's hands and made 
the old man and his boy put their guns down. He then arrested the 
old man. and ordered him to report to Colonel McQueen at sundown 
that evening. I well remember when the old man came to our camp 
that evening. There were quite a. number of visitors, citizens of Alex- 
andria, several of them ladies, who had come out to witness our dress 
parade. The parade was just over, and most of the officers had stopped 
at headquarters, and were chatting and laughing, when we were ap- 
proached by one of the most self-imi)ortant old men 1 had ever met, 
who demanded to know where --Mr." McQueen was. This was the 
old man Adjutant Morrill had ordered to report to Colonel McQueen, 
but so vindictive was this old rebel that he would not permit himself to 
address Colonel McQueen by his military title : and this was not on 
account of ignorance, for the old man was a graduate of West Point, 
and had been a Major of the regular army. Colonel McQueen sent the 
old man under escort to (General Custer, with Adjutant Morrill's state- 
ment of his reasons for arresting him, but (ieneral Custer immediately 
released him without investigation, and made the false and slanderous 
report to Cenej-al Sheridan. 

Adjutant Henry L. Morrill, whom (Jeneral Custer would have the 
world to believe an outlaw of the woi'st character, is still living as a 
witness of the falsity of the charge, having filled many important posi- 
tions of honor and trust, and is now the (ieneral Manager of the St. 
Louis & San Ki-ancisco railroad, with headquarters at St. Louis. 

I was with my company and regiment during all the time we were 
under General Custer in Louisiana and Texas, and say without hesita- 
tion oi' mental i-eservation that at no time did the men ever show any 
spii-it of lawlessness or mutiny, but on the contrary were soldierly in 
their conduct at all times. I remember talking with members of mv 



HISTORY OF FIKST IOWA CAVALRY. 285 

company about the cruel and merciless orders of the commanding Gen- 
eral, and they expressed themselves by saying that while they thought 
it hard, yet they would bear it. because they had then served four years 
with honor and did not propose to disgrace themselves now. and such 
I am sure were the sentiments of the entire command. 

While it is with feelings of regret at the necessity of conti-adicting 
the report of General Custer, because he is not living to answer in his 
own defense, at the same time I take pleasure in branding the endorse- 
ment of General James W. Forsyth as more maliciously false than the 
report itself, and General Forsyth still lives. 

A. u. Mccormick. 

Captain Co. H. 1st Iowa Cavalry. 
State of Iowa. / 
LuCA8 County. ' 
Subscribed in my presence, and sworn to before me. by A. U. Mc- 
Cormick. this 28th day of December. 1889. O. E. PAYNE. 

[L. S.] Clerk DUtrict Court. 

1. J. T. Foster, do solemnly swear that I was Captain commanding 
Company B. First Iowa Cavalry, and that my company, together with 
Captain McCormick's company and the balance of companies belonging 
to the regiment, were stationed at Alexandria. Louisiana, all under the 
command of General Custer : that I have read the above statement of 
Captain McCormick. and that it is true in every particular, and which 
I heartily endorse. J. T. FOSTER. 

Subscribed to by said J. T. Foster in my presence, and by him sworn 
to before me. the undersigned Xotary Public, on this 25th day of Sep- 
tember. A. D. 1890. ROBERT T. T. SPEXCE, 

[L. S.] Solar y Public. 

1. A. W. Hosford. late Captain Company G. First Iowa Cavalry Vol- 
unteers, would respectfully state on oath, that I was Provost Marshal 
on the staff of Colonel \Vm. Thompson, commanding brigade during the 
campaign of I860, from Alexandria. Louisiana, to Austin. Texas, under 
the command of General Custer. That in the discharge of my official 
duties I became an eye-witness of the operation and effects of the com- 
manding GeneraTs heartless and infamous orders, most of which are 
published in the Adjutant General's report of 1867. For example, one 
order required the command to march in close columns of fours, and any 
trooper found out of his place in the column with his horse was dis- 
mounted and sent to the rear, and required to complete the campaign 
on foot, and his horse given to a trooper that had been marching on 



2S() HISTORY OF BIKST IOWA CAVALRY. 

foot from the start. In that malarious country many men were afflicted 
with the old army complaint on this campaign, and the frequent pauses 
of such kept them running- a great portion of the time to catch up with 
their horses, that had to be left in the moving column ; and in a num- 
ber of instances have I seen them fall down completely exhausted, and 
I verily believe were left to die on the roadside, as the greater part of 
the few ambulances provided were kept with the commanding General 
in the advance, for the accommodation of his tired dogs. To fully un- 
derstand the opei-ation of this order it is necessary to know that, though 
we had lain in Alexandria a good while, and many cavalry regiments 
had been mustered out of service, leaving the Government with an 
abundance of horses, yet fifty or more men from each regiment were 
started out on this campaign on foot — something we had never before 
during our long service under any other commander been required to 
do. We had been in the service nearly five years, and now that the 
war was over, why we should be thus treated was a mystery none of us 
were able to solve. 

Though this march was made in the hottest part of the year, August 
and September, we were required to keep our jackets buttoned, and all 
our arms, ammunition and rations slung to us, and the dust so thick 
much of the time we could not see our file leaders. To endure this wa.s 
all a well man could stand. What must have been the suffering of the 
sick ones ? Our hardship and suffering would have been endurable 
had we been provided with enough wholesome food. But our rations 
were of the poorest quality and scanty in supply. My recollection is 
that up to the time of the arrest of Horace C. Cure no rations of beef 
had been issued to the command, but instead, bacon alive with maggots 
and hogs' jowls with tusks six inches long by actual measurement. With 
such rations, and abundance of cattle in the country, I heard of no in- 
stance of foraging or any depredations of any kind being committed, 
excei)t the killing of the little steer by Horace C. Cui'e and others, for 
which he was punished so severely and disgracefully, while the value 
of the steer could not exceed at that time and place five dollars. As 
Provost Marshal nay duties required my presence in every part of the 
command, and not a single instance of highway robbery or the mal- 
treatment of any citizen came to my knowledge, but I heard many of 
them speak of the orderly behavior and good demeanor of the troops 
compi'ising this command. Though the commanding General has now 
gone to his reward, in justice to the honorable, loyal and brave heroes 
of his command he so maliciously slandered to vindicate himself. I can 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVAI.RY. 287 

say no less than to pronounce him a heartless tyrant, totally unfit to 
have been trusted with an independent command. 

As I read his endorsement by his lackey. James W. Forsyth, my 
blood fairly boils with indig'nation toward the man that would thus libel 
this command of veteran heroes, thus bartering his honor as an officer 
and his character as a man for the promise of a promotion in the not 
distant future. 

The fact of the matter is. General Custer was called upon to give an 
account of himself for his cruel and unlawful conduct toward his com- 
mand, and to clear himself was willing to sacrifice every man in his 
command, and to give him a good send off his prototype, Forsyth, was 
willing to go him one better. But I will venture to say that this man 
Forsyth is the only one in that whole command by whom General Cus- 
ter could substantiate what he says in his statement of October 26th. 
1865. or the only officer that would approve of his arbitrary and cruel 
treatment of the men of his command. 

I will further make affidavit to the truthfulness of Lieutenant Colo- 
nel A. G. McQueen's report of the campaign to the Adjutant General of 
Iowa, with the statement that it is not colored in the least. 

(Signed.) A. W. HOSFORD. 

Late (kipt. Go. G. 1st Iowa Cavalry. 

Subscribed and sworn to before me. by A. W. Hosford. whom I be- 
lieve to be a creditable person, this •24th day of October, 188!). 

[L. S.] RICHARD O. (IRUNER. Sotarii F)//>lir. 

I. Ernest A. Klingenberg. being duly sworn, state the following 
facts : That I was First Lieutenant of Company G. First Iowa Veteran 
Volunteer Cavalry, and that I was in command of the aforesaid compa- 
ny when on the expedition or campaign from Alexandria, Louisiana, to 
Austin. Texas. Besides our regiment there were the Second Wisconsin 
Cavalry, Seventh Indiana Cavalry, and the Twelfth Illinois Cavalry, 
all under the command of Major (General Geo. A. Custer, in the summer 
of 1865. I well i-emember the infamous and cruel orders that were 
issued by General Custer prior to our departure for Texas, viz : To 
march in close column, to keep our jackets buttoned, and to have our 
arms, ammunition and rations slung to our bodies : and any enlisted 
man that would leave the ranks with his horse, irrespective for what- 
ever cause might naturally compel him to do so, had to suffer himself 
to be dismounted, his hoi'se turned over to another regiment, and made 
to walk in the heavy sand through the broiling sun. 

One morning, while leaving camp, it was discovered that our com- 



288 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

pany wagon required repairing. I therefore ordered my Second Lieu- 
tenant, Eli Waring, to take charge of a detail of men, make the neces- 
sary repairs, and to catch up to the command as soon as possible. A 
few hours later, while General Custer and his staff were flying by our 
column, ( " as they wei-e in habit of doing every day") one of his Aides- 
de-Camp reined up his horse beside me and gave me the startling infor- 
mation that my Lieutenant and his men had been dismounted by order 
of General Custer. Such an outrage, when I had left a commissionnd 
officer in charge of the men for protection in the discharge of their du- 
ties ; and General James W. Forsyth, in his disgraceful endorsement of 
General Custer's infamous report to Major General Lee. A. A. G. Mili- 
tary Division of the Gulf, under date of October 26th, 1865, says. 
' ' While en route for Texas I dismounted a Lieutenant belonging to the 
First Iowa Cavalry for straggling.'" What a 'malicious falsehood, the 
word straggling, as that was the same Lieutenant J had left in charge 
of the men to repair our company wagon. 

The command was subjected to even more humiliation — in the case 
of private Horace C. Cure, of Company M, and another man. who were 
lashed and the razor applied to their heads for a single offense of hav- 
ing killed a small beef out in the prairie, while we were subsisting on 
hogs' jowls and spoiled bacon, "being in sight of abundance of cattle 
in that part of the country we were then in." But to come back to that 
infamous report of General Custer to Major General Lee, A. A. G., to 
General Phil Sheridan, dated October 26th, 1865, in which he charged 
his command with lawlessness of almost every description, and the 
cowardly endorsement of Custer's gajllaht stand-by. General Forsyth, 
in which among others is this villainous sentence, viz : ' ■ With refer- 
ence to Genera] Custer's orders whilst I was with the command, I have 
simply to say that he made a great mistake. Instead of whipping he 
should have shot." That infamous report of Custer, and more shameful, 
inhuman endorsement of Forsyth, was merely to save Custer from be- 
ing court martialed, which he so richly deserved for the barbarous acts 
toward his command, who were so unfortunately entrusted to him on 
that famous Texas campaign. 

ERNEST A. KLINGENBERG, 
Late 1st Lieiit. Co. O. 1st Iowa Vet. Vol. Cav. 

Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 29th day of October, 1890. 
[L. S.] GEO. H. WALTHER, Notary Public. 

Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. 



I 




^ ^ 




Lieut. ERNEST fl, KLINEENHERE, 

COMPANY G. 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 289 

North Manchester. Indiana, August 29th, 1890. 

Mrs. C. H. Lothrop : — In regard to the truthfulness of General Cus- 
ter's report, dated October 20th, 1865, would say : He says that the 
troops while there were a ' ■ terror to the inhabitants, infamous, a dis- 
grace, highway robbers, murderers, etc." In the first place when we 
arrived there the town was almost deserted, no one to rob and nothing 
to steal. General Banks' army had torn down the best buildings to 
build the dam across Red river to let the gunboats down. He says the 
• ' farmers bringing in cotton or produce were permitted to sell the same 
and then were robbed in open daylight." There was no cotton in that 
part of the country for over two years. You could travel for miles and 
not see cotton, corn or produce, except peaches. The fields were over- 
grown with weeds and briars. A few of the inhabitants had returned 
from the rebel army, but the darkies were gone, and there was no one 
to work the farms. Union men were scarce. We paid one of those 
gentry a visit. He had a fine mansion, hundreds of bushels of fine 
peaches, etc. We asked him for a few to eat. He cut us short, said 
the best ones were for General Custer and staff. He had a guard there 
with orders to shoot the first man that took a peach. Well, we had 
some peaches, and the next day some of the 'boys" went out and es- 
corted the fellow to town, made him walk through the dust in the mid- 
dle of the road. 

You have the story about the Adjutant threatening to shoot that fine 
citizen. I am responsible for that, not the First Iowa Cavalry. 

As to the charge of mutiny. We all knew the war was over. Many 
of us wanted to go home and go to work. Some had farms and many had 
good trades to work at, and we were needed at home, more so than in 
the service. Some who held commissions and were getting big pay 
would rather stay in the service. It was hard under the circumstances 
to control the men. Some said we were to be sent to Texas, others to 
Mexico. When Custer issued his infamous order of march to Texas 
the whole command, officers and men. were dissatisfied. All com- 
mented upon it, and ridiculed it. They had never seen the like of it. 
(Jeneral Grant's march from the Rappahannock through the wilderness 
to Spotsylvania could not hold a candle to it for size and foolery. Be- 
fore we left Alexandria three men were sentenced to be shot. Two were 
were pardoned before the word ' ' fire" was given. What they had 
done I never knew or found out. General Custer had a particular hatred 
for the Seventh Indiana Cavalry for this reason : We kept a good run- 
ning horse, and Custer had several of his own ; Gen. Forsyth one or two. 

87 



290 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

The Seventh Indiana horse beat every time and took the money. It 
was a hard dose. His infamous order looked more like a revenge than 
a military order of march. The order was something like this : Every 
man to wear his proper uniform. Carry forty rounds of ammunition, 
(^oat buttoned up to chin. March two o'clock a. m. No one allowed 
to fall out of ranks, sick or well. He had his staff ride along the line 
continually and any one found with his coat unbuttoned was made walk, 
no matter how sick he was. Many of the poor fellows were overcome 
by the intense heat and had to fall out, and their bones were left to 
bleach in the pine wilderness of Texas. These T suppose were the de- 
serters he alludes to. 

Now something about the proper uniform, (ieneral Custer on his 
march Jiad a fine outfit. His wife was with him. They had a covered 
spring wagon drawn by four grey horses. Servant to drive, another to 
cook, one to take care of the fast stock, dogs, etc. They would start 
about daylight and dash past us about nine o'clock, and be at their jour- 
ney's end for the day by ten o'clock a. m. 

We would be in about six o'clock or in time for dress parade. That 
had to be done before we could have anything to eat or drink from the 
time we started. 

It was customary for Custer as soon as he reached camp, to go on a 
■•hunt.'" There were a good many deer along the route. One after- 
noon while on the march we espied a man sitting on his horse. When 
we came up I saw it was Custer. He was dressed in ••cow-boy" style. 
broad rimmed, grey hat, linen duster, and a double-barreled shotgun 
across the pommel of his saddle, and the ••boys'" took him for a Texan. 
Some of my company said. •• Hello, stranger, how will you trade hats ?'" 
When we arrived in camp I was ordered to Custer's headquarters. I 
expected to wa//5 next day. but Mrs. Custer interfered in our behalf. She 
gave him to understand that he should wear his proper uniform — and 
so we were saved, and I would have written this twenty years ago, only 
for my respect for her. for I am satisfied she was the best General of 
the two. The command ar-rived at Hempstead. Texas, after a march of 
three hundred miles through a pine wilderness — men worn out ; horses 
in poor (H>ndition, the glanders among them ; many had to be shot ; mine, 
a good, faithful animal, which had carried me through many hard 
places, among them, and it was hard to part with him. Well, when we 
reached Hempstead we expected better rations. Beef cattle was plenty, 
but our rations was hog jowls and flour and mouldy hard tack. The 
sick in the hospital could not eat this kind of meat. We stood this as 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 291 

long as we possibly could. Finally one of the boys in the hospital 
wanted some beef soup. Three of the boys went and killed a calf 
which would have weighed about three hundred. It did not belong to 
the rebel. Dr. Peebles, as Custer reports. It belonged to another rebel. 
There were no Union men there. The supposed owner came in and re- 
ported to Custer. He sent his detective around and searched the camp. 
Some meat was found in Companies L, M and 1. His court martial 
was in good running order. Whole companies wei'e ordered to report 
at headquarters, which was situated on the side of a hill, and in the sun 
the men had to lie all day, until the entire company was tried by de- 
tail. They finally found two men, one by name Lai-ue and James Arm- 
strong, of Peru. Indiana, who confessed, and wei-e given twenty-five 
lashes on their bare backs, and their heads shaved. Afterward made 
to march in fi'ont of the regiment at dress parade. Instead of rejoicing, 
it was hisses and curses, from one end of the regiment to the other. 
My company was to come next, but fortunately (xeneral Shanks arrived. 
I met him at the train, and gave him a history of the proceedings. He 
asked me what I was going to do about it. I said, • • that every gun 
was loaded and we would die right there before we would submit to 
such treatment.'" He said he would go over and have the d — d whip- 
ing stopped. * * * * * 

It was a (!Oinmon occurrence to see soldiers at any time in the day 
draw up and shoot at Custer and staff. One time in particular they 
made him turn back. I was officer of the day at the time and saw the 
whole transaction. General Custer asked, -'Who in the h-U was do- 
ing that shooting." I told him thei-e would be more ; to get out of this, 
he was in the camp of the Seventh Indiana, whose men he had whipped 
for killing a beef. It was the last time I saw (general Custer, and you 
can see how much respect we had for him as a soldier. We served 
under Generals Sheridan. Smith, McClellan and others and never had 
any trouble. ***** 

GEORGE W. S'I'OVER, Seiwnth Indiana. 

Portland, Indiana. 
1 am asked as to the truthfulness of the foregoing report of General 
Custer and endorsement of General Forsyth, and would say they are a 
shame and disgrace, and a vile slander on the soldiers under General 
( 'uster's command. I did see a soldier murdered by order of (ieneral 
Custer. His crime was trying to get away from the reign of brutality, 
to home and friends. The cotton story is this : Two cotton haulers 
tried to get through the lines, but were refused until the guard could 



292 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

hear from headquarters. The haulers took a.dvantag'e of the halt, 
turned the team and drove some three miles out and managed to get 
stuck, for an excuse for their detention in case they were found. They 
were citizens, not soldiers. The next morning the old planter came in. 
raving and swearing "the soldiers had stolen his cotton," and reported 
the same at headquarters. He offered one of our sergeants ten dollars 
if he would find it ; he accepted the offer, went to the guard post, took 
the wagon trail, and found the cotton. When the rebel found they were 
not soldiers but his own men- he refused to pay, but Lake said it must 
be paid, and it was settled without further controversy. These are the 
true facts of the cotton theft and money robbery. 

And further, the men, dead, weak and worn out from torture and 
starvation, heat, and malaria from that deadly river bottom, were not 
able to commit the atrocities of which he accuses them. 

Custer punished innocent men to glut his venomous disposition. 
Cure was falsely accused : he did not know who killed the beef ; but he 
was tortured for many hours in the hot sun, stripped and whipped un- 
mercifully, and then had his head shaved entirely bald. And then 
Custer to misrepresent, to screen his own damnable deeds ! On the 
march to Hempstead, Texas, he ordered two sick men out of the ambu- 
lance, so that his (Custer's) dogs might ride. The men died at Hemp- 
stead. And this is but a small part of his brutal doings. 

JOAB SOMERS, 
Member of Co. L. 1st Iowa Cavalry. 

Subscribed and sworn to before me, this loth day of Novembei*. 1889. 
ISAA(~" SIMMONS, Justice of the Peace. 

(Could furnish a hundred similar statements, but it would be simply 
a recapitulation of the preceding, and this part of the record is closed 
with an extract from a newspaper of the day, corroborative of the fore- 
going, and (Tovernor Stone's letter to the Secretary of War, also printed 
at the time. — V. L.) 

Last week we published portions of three letters from Texas, which 
exposed brutal practices resorted to by General Custer in the treatment 
of his command, the army in Texas. This week still another letter is 
handed us. written by a resident of Lyons, from which we copy a few 
lines : 

••Our health is better than our grub. We get half rations of wormy 
bread, and sugar and coffee according : fresh beef without salt or pep- 
per. On this campaign we marched from two till ten a. m.. and from 
four till eight p. m. We have been treated worse than dogs. General 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 293 

Ouster went in the advance. He and his wife and staff would be shoot- 
ing all day long ; if they saw a quail, they would stop the whole com- 
mand in the sun, so they could get a chance to shoot it. They made 
out to keep us in the sun all day. The sun was hot enough to boil cof- 
fee in the shade." 

These complaints of ill treatment come from soldiers from the differ- 
ent States, and net a doubt exists that there is all too much foundation 
for them. There can be no necessity now for forced marches, nor for 
poor fare any length of time ; nor can there be any palliation for the 
great brutality practiced upon soldiers in that department, — Lyons 
Mirror, Sept. 30th. 1865. 

State of Iowa, Executive Department, 
DesMoines, October 18th, 1865. 
Hon. E. M. Stanton. Secretary of War: 

Sir — My attention is respectfully called to the many complaints of 
the severe treatment to which the First Iowa Cavalry, now serving in 
Texas, are subjected under command of Major General Custer. Excess- 
ive and unreasonable duty, brutal and unmilitary punishments for triv- 
ial offenses, unauthorized interference with the mails, whereby the 
members of this regiment are almost deprived of commvmication with 
their friends and families, ai"e among the abuses complained of, and 
information of facts upon which they are based is derived from sources 
so authentic that I am constrained to indulge the belief of gross mis- 
conduct on the part of this General toward these veteran troops, and to 
again demand the immediate interference of your department in their 
behalf. 

This is the first time that a sense of duty has compelled me to call 
attention to the alleged misconduct of a general officer to an Iowa regi- 
ment, and it is the only instance, so far as my knowledge extends, where 
just ground for complaint has existed ; but in the conduct of the General 
named, the violations of law and regulations have been so palpable, 
and his treatment of these men so indecent and brutal, that forbearance 
on my part would amount to criminal neglect of duty. 

In view of the fact that this regiment has been in active field service 
for over four years, participating in the most arduous and perilous cam- 
paigns of the western division of the army, I respectfully suggest and 
urge that it be discharged as soon as the exigencies of the public ser- 
vice will permit. 

I have the honor to remain, very respectfully. &c.. 
—State Register. W. M. STONE. 



1866. 

The beginning of the year 1866 found the regiment as here- 
tofore at Austin, with detachments in various localities assisting 
in the restoration of civil government. The attempt of the 
powers of the old world to create a diversion in favor of the so 
called Southern Confederacy, by attempting to transfer tho 
conflict to Mexico, had signally failed, and the reconstrviction 
of the Southern portion of our sorely smitten Nation had com- 
menced and was rapidly progressing. 

On January 24th the following special order, No. 20, was 
issued from headquarters Department of Texas, ordering the 
muster out of service of the First Iowa, Third Michigan and 
Seventh Indiana Cavalry Regiments : 

Headquarters Department of Texas. 

Galveston, Texas, January 24th, 1865. 
Special Order No. 20. (Extract.) 

The following- regiments will be at once mustered out of service of 
the United States : 

First Iowa Volunteer Cavalry, 
Third Michigan Volunteer Cavalry. 
Seventh Indiana Volunteer Cavalry. 
The musters out of these regiments will be made in conformity with 
general orders No. 94, series (35, War Department, and will include the 
entire organization, present and absent. 

As soon as each regiment is mustered out. it will be at once placed 
en route for its proper State rendezvous. Its commanding officer re- 
porting on his arrival at New Orleans to Brevet Lieutenant Colonel 
Sturgeon, U. S. Army, Chief Mustering Officer, Military Division of the 
Gulf, and to Brevet Major General T. W. Sherman, commanding East- 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 295 

ern Department of Louisiana. The Quartermaster's Department will 
furnish the necessary transportation. 

All officers and enlisted men on detached duty belonging to either of 
the above named organizations will be at once relieved and returned to 
their regiments. 

Major General Custer, commanding cavalry, will forward to these 
headquarters a statement of the number of officers and men of each 
regiment present and the number absent. 

The Chief Mustering Officer of the Department is charged with the 
execution of this order. 

By command of Major General Wright. 

(Signed, ) A. H. WHITTSLAY, 

Official : L. W. Barnhart. A. A. A. O. Brt. Col. and A. A. G. 

The order was received at regimental headquarters February 
1st. The news was received with joyful acclaim. The regi- 
ment felt that the day of its deliverance was at hand ; that its 
trials and sufferings were at an end ; that it had passed through 
the terrible (nxleal successfully, and had left undimmed the 
grand escutcheon of Iowa's honor and patriotism ; that it would 
return to the people who bade it be faithful, true and brave, 
when nearly five long years ago they sent it to the liattle front, 
in defense of country and home. That they would return to 
their fathers, mothers, sweethearts and wives, brothers, sisters, 
and neighbors, lay aside the implements of war. and receive the 
})laudits of a grateful people : Well done, faithful soldier of 
an undivided republic. Detachments of the regiment which 
had been located at various jilaces were ordered to report at 
liea(l(|uartcrs without delay, and other preparations made for 
the iinister out. 

On .lanaary 31st the following special order. No. 25, requir- 
ing all officers on duty at ''these headquarters detached from 
regiments serving in this command " to report to their respect- 
i\-e regiments : 

Headquakteks Cavalry, Dee^artment of Texas. 
Final. January 81st. 1866. 

Si'EciAi, Orders No. 25. (K.rtrart.) 

XIV. * * * ^j] officers now on duty at these headquarters de- 



296 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

tached from regiments serving in this command, are hereby relieved 
and will report to the commanding officer of their respective regiments. 
By command of Major General Custer. 

JACOB L. GREENE, 
Assistant Adjutant General. 
Lt. H. S. Heberling, 1st Iowa Cav. Amb. Off. 

About this time, by order from the War Department, Major 
General Custer and his staff officers were also ordered mustered 
out the service. This fact was not generally known among the 
soldiers, and it was regarded as fortunate for General Custer 
that the fact was not known. In his (Custer's) anxiety to leave 
the presence of the men he had so cruelly treated, he ordered 
relays of twelve horses, stationed at points along his route, to 
expedite his flight from the scenes of his barbarous inhumanity. 
The hero of ' ' manv a mad charge, ' ' sinking into the ' ' hero of 
the lash," left during the night of February 4th, unhonored 
and unrespected. The following is a copy of the order to 
Lieutenant Heberling relating to the relay of horses : 

Office Chief Q. M. Cav., February 3d. 1866. 
Lieut : — We will want twelve horses from your train to send out as 
relays for the General. Have them ready by twelve o'clock. I want 
only the horses without harness. I will have the proper order for you 
by the time the horses are wanted. 

Truly. &c., A. S. JONES. 

Approved : Lt. and A. A. Q. 

G. A. Custer, Brt. Brig. Oen. U. S. A. 

Lieutenant Colonel McQueen writes as follows in relation to 
this matter : ' ' Having been privately informed as to General 
Custer's intention in having a relay of horses for his use to reach 
Austin, I apparently happened to be riding past General Custer's 
headquarters at the Insane Asylum just as those ambulance team- 
sters were drawn up in front of his headquarters, and made in- 
quiry what it meant and was told. I then ordered Lieutenant 
Heberling to take the teams back to quarters, and have all the 
First Iowa men returned to the regiment as soon as he could 
turn the property over to the Post Quartermaster. Lieutenant 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 297 

Heberling ordered a sergeant to take the teams to quarters, 
which he did. Custer was standing in the door, and heard and 
saw all that was said and done, but did not say a word. He 
then sent to General Sturgis, asking that they be returned. 
General Sturgis, however, sent an ambulance with two mules, 
a sergeant and six men, to escort him to Brenham. It was re- 
ported to me that there was a detachment of men in the bush 
before daylight, with carbines to fire a parting salute, but he 
passed about two hours before they got into position. 

I had a copy of the order mustering Custer and his stafi' out 
before Custer received the order, but did not dare say anything 
about it. The man who sent it is now dead. He never be^ 
longed to the regiment. Mustering Custer and his staff out was 
done to save trouble and a great deal of expense. I have long 
since burned this secret correspondence, at the request of parties 
who were liable to be injured by it." 

Colonel and Brevet Brigadier General 8. 1). Sturgis being 
now in command of the troops, located at Austin and vicinity. 

On February 7th, Colonel and Brevet Brigadier General 
William Thompson was, by order of General Sturgis, placed 
in command of the First Brigade. By the following special 
order. No. 1, the following named officers were announced as 
members of General Thompson's staff : First Lieutenant W. 
W. Fluke, A. A. Q. M.; Captain T. J. R. Perry, Company C, 
A. A. I. G. ; Surgeon Chas. H. Lothrop, Senior Surgeon — all 
of the First Iowa Cavalry: 

Headquarters 1st Brig. Cav. D. T.. 

Austin, Texas. February 7th. 1866. 
Special Order No. 1. 

V. The following named officers are announced aa staff to the Bre- 
vet Brigadier (ieneral commanding brigade, and will report to these 
headquartars without delay: 

First Lieutenant W. W. Fluke. R. Q. M. First Iowa C^avalry, A. A. 
Q. M. 

Captain T. J. R. Perry. Company C, First Iowa Cavalry, A. A. I. G. 



298 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

Surgeon Chas. H. Lothrop, First Iowa Cavalry, Senior Surgeon. 
By order of Brevet Brigadier Genei-al Thompson. 

R. T. NEWELL, 
1st Lieut. 1st Iowa Cavalry, A. A. A. Genl. 
Surg. Chas. H. Lothrop, Isl la. Cav. 

Soon afterward General Thompson with escort left on a short 
tour of inspection, to San Antonia and other places. 

After General Sturgis assumed command ' ' the reign of ter- 
ror ' ' ceased, and a most kindly feeling existed between General 
Sturgis and the officers and men of his command. General 
Sturgis was a most kind and attal)le gentleman, and will be ever 
held in high esteem by the Old First Cavahy Regiment. 

During this time preparations for the muster out of the regi- 
ment had l)een in active i)rogress, and the necessary prepara- 
tions for a homeward march made. It left Austin on the 19th 
})y the way of Bastrop to Brenham, and from thence by rail- 
road to Galveston, and l)v steamer Magnolia to New Orleans. 
In contrast with the manner in which General Custer left the 
scene of his operations, it is worthy of note that the First Iowa 
Cavalry left Austin in the <l<iytime. General Sturgis, with his 
staff officers and brigade band, together with a luunber of the 
'' terrorized " citizens, acted as escort for a short distance out 
of the city, and on ])arting they bid the old regiment, that 
''terror of the citizens," a most kindly farewell, and wished the 
'•'boys" a safe and ])leasant journey to their Northern homes. 
Leaving (ialveston on the 28th, it reached New Orleans March 
2(1. The next day it left on the steamer W. H. Osborn, and 
arrived at Cairo, Illinois, on the 9th. 

On the intli it left Cairo by the way of the Illinois (.'entral 
railroad, and arri\e(l at LavSalle, a town at the junction of the 
Illinois Central railroad with the Chicago. Rock Island and Pa- 
cific i-aih-oad. at I<>.3<) p. m.. in box or freight cars. Leaving 
LaSalle l)y the way of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific rail- 
road at -f. 30 A. M. of the 12th. it arrived at Davenport, Iowa, 
on the same da v. 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 299 

On the evening of the 13tli a most hearty welcome was ten- 
dered the officers of the regiment, in the form of a grand recep- 
tion at the pahitial residence of Mr. and Mrs. Woods ; and on 
the 15th it was discharged and finally paid. 

After nearly five years of arduous and most faithful service 
in preserving the integi'ity of the Nation, with not a single stain 
to dim the brightness of its escutcheon, it was mustered out, 
and, returning home, the patriot soldier became an honored 
citizen. 

The total munber of enlistments were 2, ls7, and the casual- 
ties 551. 

The following officers received l)revet rank, Tnited States 
Volunteer Army : 

Colonel and Brigadier (General Fitz Henry Warren, Major 
(leneral. 

t'olonel AVilliam Thompson, Brigadier General. 

Lieutenant Colonel A. G. McQueen, Colonel and Brigadier 
General. 

Major J. I), flenks. Lieutenant Colonel. 

Surgeon M. B. Cochran, Lieutenant Colonel. 

Lieutenant and Adjutant H. L. Morrill, Captain and Major. 
•Captain H. H. Heath, Company L, afterward ('olonel Sev- 
enth Iowa Cavalry, Brigadier General. 

ROSTER OF OFFICERS OF RECHMENT. 

Field and Staff. 

Cohnicls — Fitz Henry Warren, James (). (iower, Daniel 
Anderson, William Thoniijson. 

LientctKDif Coloiirls — Chas. E. Moss, P. Gad Bryan, Daniel 
Anderson, Joseph W. Caldwell, Alexander (t. McQueen. 

Majors — Edwin W. Chamberlain, James O. (iower, \\n\. 
M. G. Torrence. P. (xad Bryan, Daniel Anderson, Joseph W. 
Caldwell. Levi Chase, William Thompson, Alexander G. Mc- 
Queen, James D. Jenks. John McDermott, Thomas A. Bere- 
man. William S. Whisenand. 



300 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVAI.RT. 

Surgeonfi — Milton B. Cochran. Charles H. Lothrop. 

Assistant Surgeons — David B. Allen, Charles H. Lothrop, 
John A. Ladd. John J. Sanders, James Hervey, Asa Morgan. 

Additional Assistant Surgeon — Charles H. Lothrop. 

Adjtdanits — Joseph C. Stone, David A. Kerr, John A. Don- 
nell. Henrv L. Morrill. 

Quarterinaxters — Martin L. Morris, Samuel C. Dickerson, 
(laus H. Albers, Wm.' W. Fluke. 

Commissaries- — Henry L. Dashiell, Robert X. Newell. 

Battalion Adjutants — David A. Kerr, James M. Bryan, 
Henry L. Robinson, Joseph S. Edsall. 

Battalion Quartermasters — John A. Landis, (^harles A. Case, 
William H. Mussy. 

Chaplain.^ — James W\ Latham, John M. Coggeshall, James 
S. Rand. 

Company A. 

('aptai/u.s — Wm. M. (i. Torrence, Alex. (i. McQueen, Rob- 
ert M. Reynolds, Thomas J. O'Bleness. 

First Lieutemi'Tits — Alex. G. McQueen, Robert M. Reynolds, 
John R. Marshall, John L. Russell, Thomas J. (VBleness. Al- 
exander P. Boyse. 

Second Lieutenants — Robert M. Reynolds, .John A. Bishop, 
John R. Marshall, John L. Russell, Thomas J. CVBleness, Al- 
exander P. Boyse. 

Company B. 

Cajftains — Wm. E. Leffingwell, Samuel S. Burdett, Joseph 
T. Foster. 

Fi7'st Lieuten<;i/iits—Sa.mue\ S. Burdett, Joseph T. Foster, 
Henry P. Shiffer. 

Seco7id Lieutenant.^ — William H. DeFreest. Henry P. Shif- 
fer, Hiram S. Heberling. 

Company C. 

Captains — Levi C^hase, Thomas Jones, Thomas J. R. Perry. 

Fi/st Lieutenants — Benjamin Raney, Thomas Jones, Matthew 
Ronaldsoii, Thomas J. R. Perrv, Clinton M. Turner. 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA OAVALRY. 301 

Second Lieutenants — Albert F. Dean, Thomas Jones, Matthew 
Ronaldson, William A. Clark, Clinton M. Turner. 

Company D. 

Captains — P. Gad Bryan, James D. Jenks, George M. 
Walker. 

First Lieutenants — James D. Jenks, William R. Shriver, 
George M. Walker, James G. Rutter. 

Second Lieutenants — William R. Shriver, Geo. M. Walker. 
William B. Ramsey. 

Company E. 

Captains — William Thompson, Thomas A. Bereman, Wm. 
A. Coulter. 

First Lieutenants — William P. McClure, Silas R. Nugen, 
William A. Coulter, Christian C. Kauffman. 

Second: Lieutenants — Thomas A. Bereman, Sumner B. Mar- 
shall, William A. (\nilter. Christian C. Kautfman, George E. 
Ives. 

Company F. 

Captains — »James O. Gower, Philip E. Shaver, Chas. Dustin. 

Fi7'.st Lieutemints — James R. Elliott, Philip I£. Shaver, 
Charles Dustin, Jacob Hursh, Charles W. W. Dow. 

Second Lieutenxints — Philip E. Shaver, Chas. Dustin, Jacob 
Hursh, Chas. W. W. Dow. James C. Huskins. 

Company G. 

Captainx — James I). Thompson, John McDermott, Albert 
W. Hosford. 

First Lieutenmits — .John McDermott, Elkanah S. Foster, 
Ernest A. Klingenberg. 

Second Lieutenants — Elkanah S. Foster, Solomon Smith, 
Albert W. Hosford, Eli Waring. 

Company H. 
Captains — Daniel Anderson, Riley Westcoatt, William S. 
Whisenand. Albert U. McCorraick. 



302 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

JF'h'st LieutenmiU — Riley Westeoatt, Wni. S. Whisenand, 
Albert U. McCormick, Samuel T. Craig. 

Second Lieutenant.^ — Wm. 8. Whisenand, Albert U. Mc- 
Cormick, Samuel T. Craig, George M. Mai-k. 

Company I. 

('((jttaiuK — Joseph W. (^aldwell, David C. Dinsmore, Amos 
Dilley. 

Fint Lieutenants — David C. Dinsmore, Amos Dilley, Jo- 
seph H. Springer. 

Second Lievtenantx — William H. Kitterman, Samuel M. 
Lindsey. 

Company K. 

(\tptainx — Robert L. Freeman, Thomas H, Barnes, James 
M. Russell. 

Fii'xt Lieutenantii — Thomas Henry Barnes, Chas. F. Keeler, 
Walter W. Carpenter. 

Second Lieutenants — Albert L. Freeman, Hiram H. Sovvles, 
C^harles F. Keeler, James M. Russell, Charles DuBois. 

Company L. 

Oaptainn — Herman H. Heath, David C. Mclntyre. 

First Liexiteiimits — David C. Mclntyre, James M. Simeral. 

Second Lieutenants — James M. Simeral, Warren Y. Reeves, 
John M. Enochs. 

Company M. 

('aptains — Wm. H. Ankeny, James P. Crosby, Solomon 
Townsend. 

First L'ieutenmits — James Crissy. Edwin A. Dunham, Geo. 
McDouall. 

Second Liefutenants — James P. Crosby, Edwin A. Dunham, 
Solomon Townsend, George McDouall, Edward Ware. 



DETACHED SERVICE. 



FIELD AND STAFF. 
Colonel William Thompson. 

In June. 1863, at the organization of General John W. Davidson's 
great Cavalry Division of the Missouri. I was detailed, by his t)rder 
and by the consent of Colonel Cower, as Inspector General of the di- 
vision. I remained on duty in this capacity until the General was 
relieved by (yeneral Eugene Carr nearly a year after, when I was re 
tained by (ieneral Carr as Inspector (General and Chief of Staff com- 
bined. 

I remained on (reneral Carr's staff until the day after (ieneral Price 
of the ( "onfederate army and his command crossed the Arkansas I'iver. 
going north on his raid on Pilot Knob, in 1S64. when I was ordered to 
St. Louis by (ieneral Carr. for the purpose of obtaining horses for his 
command and to apprise (ieneral Rosecrans of (General Price's coming. 
There were no horses obtainable, (ieneral Davidson had become Chief 
of Cavalry Bureau in the West, with his headquarters at St. Louis. 
Learning of my arrival, he at once detailed me on his staff as Sujjervis- 
ing lnspectf)r of Cavalry horses, and fix6d my headquarters at Keokuk. 
Iowa. 

On the Sth of June. 1S64, I was commissioned Colonel of the First 
Iowa Volunteer Cavalry, and on the 20th I had returned to Little Rock, 
was mustered as ('olonel, and took charge of the regiment. 

In March. April and May of 1865. I commanded a brigade under 
(ienei-al Osborne at Memphis, and in West Tennessee and Northern 
Mississippi. In June I moved with my regiment to Alexandria, Louis- 
iana, and re])orted to General (ieo. A. Custer, who in a short time after 
ordered me in command of the Second Brigade of his division. In this 
position we remained until we arrived at Austin. Texas. After that, 



804 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

during the winter of 1865-6, I was ordered by General Custer to pro- 
ceed to San Antonio, Texas, to relieve General Stanley, and to take 
command of all the cavalry stationed there, some six or eight regiments. 
This duty I performed, and i"emained there until I left for home to be 
mustered out. I left there the last of February, and had reached Gal- 
veston by the 1st of March. WILLIAM THOMPSON. 

Colonel Daniel Anderson. 
Officer issuing order. General J. W. Davidson. Detached in com- 
mand of Second Brigade Cavalry Division, from October, 1863, to 
March 23, 1864. Also detached on military commission at Little Rock. 
Arkansas. Detached March 23, 1864, commanding post Little Rock. 
by order of Major General Steele. 

Major Levi Chase. 
Officer issuing order. Colonel Fitz Henry Warren. Number of order 
lost in the fire at Clinton. Missouri. Place of service, in command of 
post at Osceola, Missouri. Date, summer of 1862. Also detached by 
order of Brigadier General J. W. Davidson in the fall of 1863, and as- 
signed to the command of Remount Camp for Cavalry Division at Little 
Rock, Arkansas, during the following winter. During this time also 
acted as judge of regimental court. First Iowa Cavalry. 

C. Henri Albers. 
' • Was detached as clerk to the A. A. General of Phillips" brigade, 
October, 1862, perhaps a month, at Cross Hollows. Was appointed R. 
Q. M. of the Third Iowa Cavalry, at the expiration of the detached 
service.'" 

H. L. Morrill. 
' ' Never was detached from regiment so as to leave it, but served as 
Acting Assistant Adjutant General of brigade under Colonel Thompson. 
Also served on court martial at Austin, Texas, by order of General 
("uster." 

Surgeon D. B. Allen. 
•Was commissioned Surgeon of the Thirtieth Iowa Infantry, April 
10th, 1863. Was in the First Division Fifteenth Army Corps, com- 
manded by General W. T. Sherman. Joined my regiment on or about 
May 1st, 1863." -j 

H. L. Dashiell. 
Was Provost Marshal at Clinton, Missouri has no record of date. 

EVARTS S. EvviNG. 
Not found. 



HISTOKY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 305 

COMPANY A. 
Lieutenant J. A. Bishop. 

Was on a military commission in the winter of 1862-3. a short time 
at Springfield, Missouri, at the time Marmadvike made the raid on the 
town. Do not recollect the date. 

COMPANY B. 
Captain S. S. Bukdett. 
In the fall of 1862, Brigadier General Fitz Henry Warren had me 
detailed as Brigade Quartermaster on his staff. Served with him in the 
field in that capacity until the spring of 1863, when, by order of the 
Major General commanding the Department of the Missouri, I was de- 
tailed as Assistant Provost Marshal of the Department, and assigned to 
duty at St. Louis, where I remained until mustered out at end of term 
of service. (August, 1864.) Have mislaid all the special orders, etc. 

J. M. Gates. Okdeklv Sekueant. 
Officer issuing order. General Fitz Henry Warren. Place of service, 
Davenport and vicinity. Date, October, 1862. Nature of service, re- 
cruiting for company. 

R. M. BoDELL, Vetekinauv Sukgeon. 
Order of General Steele. Place of service, with the Fourth Arkan- 
sas Cavalrj-. Nature of service, veterinary surgeon. 

COMPANY C. 
Lieutenant Clinton M. Tuknek. 
Officer issuing order. Major McDermott. Number not remembered. 
Place of service, command of Company L. at Mexico, Missoui'i. and on 
••Price's raid," in fall of 1864. Command of I company from North 
Missouri to Little Rock, December. 1864. Command of B company at 
Austin. Texas. January, 1866. by oi'der of Colonel Wm. 'rh()m])son. 

Captain T. J. R. Pekkv. 
I was in command of Columbia. Missouri, during the •• Price raid," 
but cannot send the date or order used. 

Lieutenant Geokge Van Beek. 
Officer issuing order. Colonel Fitz Henry Warren. Number of order, 
special. Place of service and with whom. Montevallo, Missouri, and 
served continuously until relieved at Forsyth, Missouri — first with Ew- 

ing A. ; then with Lieutenant Shafer. at Osceola, Missouri : 

then with Billy Wilson, driving hospital team. Date of service, from 
May, 1862, to February, 1863. Nature of service, teamster for regi- 
mental hospital; detailed as such at Springfield. Missouri, fall of 1862. 
39 



306 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

COMPANY D. 
Lieutenant William R. Shriver. 

Officer issuing order, Major General Fred. Steele, commanding De- 
partment of Arkansas. Place of service, detailed on recruiting service 
for P'irst Iowa Cavalry, December 28th, 1863, from Little Rock, Ark- 
ansas. Returned to same place, and to our regiment, having recruited 
128 men. about May 10th, 1864. 

COMPANY E. 
Lieutenant Silas R. Nugen. 

Order issued by General Frank Herron. Place of service, Rolla, 
Missouri. Nature of service, command section of artillery. Detached 
August, 1863. to assist Quartermaster of Third Brigade, General Da- 
vidson's Cavalry Division. By order of General Davidson, was made 
(in Avigust, 1863,) Quartermaster of Third Brigade. General Davidson's 
Cavalry Division: served until December, 1863. December 1st, by 
order of (Jeneral Fred. Steele, was ordered to Jackson Post, Arkansas, 
to act as Post Quartermaster ; served two months. In January, 1864, 
by order of Colonel John M. (ilover, was made Brigade Quartermaster 
of Third Brigade. Cavalry Division ; served under Colonel (jlover until 
March 15th, 1864. By order of General Carr was appointed Quarter- 
mastei- : served under General Carr until April 20th, 1864. 
Lieutenant William McClure. 

By order of ( 'olonel Fitz Henry Warren, sent to St. Louis, in the 
summer of 1862. from Butler, for indictments and papers from Provost 
Marshal (General at St. Louis. Have no date ; papei'S lost. 

(H)MPANY F. 
Cai'Tain J. R. Elliott. 
Officer issuing order Captain William E. Leffingwell, Company B. 
Number of order. No. 1 . Place of service, Osceola. Missouri. Date 
of service. April 15th. 1SH2. Nature of service. Provost Marshal. 
Lieutenant James C. Huskins. 
Name of officer issuing order. Colonel James O. Gower. Place of 
service, Davenport, Iowa. Date, 1S62. Nature of service, recruiting 
for First Iowa Cavalry. 

COMPANY G. 
Captain James D. Thompson. 
Name of officer issuing order. Major General Schoheld. Place of 
service, Butler. Missouri. Nature of service, military commission. 
Lieutenant Henry Gregory. 
Place of service, east of Little Rock. Major Chase in command. 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 307 

Date of service, after taking- of Little Rock by Federal troops. Nature 
of service, recuperating and guarding stock. 

COMPANY H. 
Captain Riley Westcoatt. 

Major General ('urtis. All my war records were captui-ed by the 
enemy. Place of service, Jeffei'son City, Sedalia and Clinton, Missouri. 
Nature of service. Quartermaster's department at post. 
Lieutenant Samuel T. Ckaig. 

Detached as Ordnance Officer of arsenal for a short time, at Little 
Rock, Arkansas. Detached as A. A. Quartermaster, First Brigade, at 
same place, (ieneral Cyrus Bussey commanding. Detached as A. A. 
Quartermaster, Second Brigade, Cavalry Division. Colonel William 
Thompson commanding, with second expedition to Camden. Arkansas, 
January 2d, 1865, (xeneral E. E. Carr commanding. Detached as A. 
A. A. General Cavalry Division. General E, D. Osbaud commanding, at 
Memphis, Tennessee. Detached as A. A. Quartermaster District West 
Tennessee, June loth, 1865, General B. S. Robei-ts commanding, at 
Memphis, Tennessee. Detached as Ordnance Officer. June 15th. 1865. 
Memphis, Tennessee. General B. S, Roberts commanding. Detached 
as A. A, Quartermaster, special order No. 109, November 2yth. 1865, 
Genei'al Custer commanding, Austin, Texas, to proceed to Galveston, 
Texas, to procure quartermaster stores and clothing and camp equipage 
for troops at .\iistin, Texas. 

COMPANY K. 
( APTAiN Robert L. Fkeeman. 
Officer issuing order. Colonel H. Bertram, commanding First Brig- 
ade, Third Division. Seventh Army Corps, Number of order, unknown. 
Place of service, in the field directly after battle of Prairie (irove. 
Served under Colonel Bertram, Col, Glover, ('olonel Daniel Anderson 
and others commanding the brigade. Nature of service. Acting Assist- 
ant Adjutant General. Provost Marshal. Clinton, several months. Cap- 
tain James M. Russell. Officer issuing order. Lieutenant Colonel J. W. 
('aid well. This order was left in the hands of Paymaster Major Smith. 
Place of service — first, while en route from St. Louis. Missouri, to Dav- 
enport, Iowa : second, Davenport, Iowa, under Lieutenant Colonel Wm. 
N. (jeer, superintendent of recruiting service in State of Iowa. Date 
of service. May 15th, 1864, to June 20th, 1864. Nature of service — 
first, in command of Company B ; second, in charge of ordnance and 
ordnance stores of the First Iowa Cavalry while the regiment was at 
home on veteran furlough. 



308 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

Lieutenant A. L. Freeman. 

Officer issuing order. Colonel Dan Hueston. Place of service and 
with whom, Sedalia, Missouri, as Assistant Provost Marshal, with 
Lieutenant Crissy. Date of service, in the spring of 1863. Also at 
Gsceola, Missouri, as Quartermaster and Commissary, in the summer of 
1863, by order of Colonel Warren and Major Leffingwell, some two 
months. 

Second Lieutenant Charles DuBois. 

Officers issuing orders, Brigadier General Sturgis and Major General 
(i. A. Custer. Number of orders^first, special No. 1, General Sturgis ; 
second, special order No. 2. Places of service — first, Austin, Texas ; 
second. San Antonio, Texas. Dates of service — first, December 4th, 

1865, to January 15th. 1866: second, January 15th, 1865. to February, 

1866. Nature of service, engineer and ordnance officer. 

Private Frank Pease. 
Officer issuing order, H. H. Heath. Place of service and with whom. 
Clinton. Missouri ; Provost Marshal and Quartermaster. Date of ser- 
vice, spi'ing of 186'2. Nature of service, captured the forms of a rebel 
paper, and printed off a lot of jjapers on the old forms, and then set up 
the other side with intensely Union matter, so the newspaper presented 
the anomaly of being one side rebel and one side loyal. (Papers sold 
lively. ) Printing Provost Marshal and Quai-tei-ra aster blanks. 

COMPANY L. 

CAPT.41N D. C. McInTYKE. 

Name of officer issuing order. Major (Teneral Halleck. Number of 
order. 88, headquarters. Department of Missoiui. Place of service and 
with whom. Captain H. B. Hendershott, Second Artillery, U. S. A.: 
superintendent of recruiting service for the .State of Iowa. Date. July 
•25th, 1862, until October 9th. 1862. Nature of service. A. A. Adjutant. 
A. A. Quartermaster and A. A. ( "omraissary of the recruiting service 
for the State of Iowa, at Davenport, Iowa. Detached — officers issuing 
order. Lewis Merrill. ( 'olonel in charge of West Division Cavalry Bu- 
reau, and Major (xeneral Rosecrans. Number of order, 75, Western 
Division Cavalry Bureau. Number of order. 192, headquarters Depart- 
ment of the Missouri. Date of service. July 7th, 1864, until September 
2d, 1S64. Nature of service, A. A. Adjutant General, West Division 
('avalry Bureau. St. Louis, Missouri. 

Lieutenant James M. Simekal. 
Names of officers issuing orders. General Sturgis. (Teneral Herron, 
General Fred. Steele, War Department, (Colonel Vincent. Numbers of 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 309 

orders, all burned. Nature of service, Assistant Commissary of Muster, 
under Colonel Bonnefield, Department of Missouri, from May, 1863, to 
March, 1864 ; court martial, June or July, 1862 ; Commissary of Post 
at Todd Barracks, Columbus, Ohio, about the 10th of April, 1865. 

COMPANY M. 
A. D. Gaston. 
Names of officers issuing order. Brigadier General B. S. Roberts and 
Brigadier Genei'al Alf. Sully. Place of service. Davenport, Iowa. 
Date of service, spring of 1862. 



PROMOTIONS. 



FIELD AND STAFF. 
Colonel Fitz Henry Warren. 
Promoted Brigadier General. Brevet Major General. 

Colonel William Thompson. 
Promoted March 13th, 1865. Brevet Brigadier General. 

Major James D. Jenks. 
Promoted Brevet Lieutenant Colonel United States Volunteers. 
March 15th, 1«65. 

Major W. M. G. Torrence. 
Promoted Lieutenant Colonel and Colonel Thirtieth Iowa Infantry. 

Lieutenant Colonel A. G. McQueen. 
Promoted Brevet Colonel and Brigadier (ieneral United States Vol- 
unteers. 

Surgeon M. B. Cochran. 
Promoted Assistant Surgeon United States Volunteers. May iHth. 
1864. Surgeon United States Volunteers, Novemher 25th. 1864. Bre- 
vet Ijieutenant C'olonel. 

Assistant Surgeon D. B. Allen. 
Promoted April 10th, 1863, Surgeon Thirtieth Iowa Infantry. 

Assistant Surgeon Asa Morgan. 
Promoted May 12th. 1866, Surgeon Twelfth Illinois Cavalry Vol- 
unteers- 

Adjutant H. L. Morrill. 
Promoted Brevet C'aptain and Major United States Volunteers. 

COMPANY A. 

Joseph S. Van Sant, 

Adjutiint First Regiment Arkansas Infantry, September 2d. 1862. 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 311 

John Mack. 

Promoted Captain Regiment Illinois Volunteers, October 

nth. 1861. 

Herman J. Huiskamp. 

Promoted Second Lieutenant Sixth Missouri (^'avalry, March 20th, 

Ambrose Gallagher. 
Promoted May 26th, 1863, Eleventh Missouri ("avalry. 

John Hekwick. 
Promot.ed Fourth Arkansas Infantry, A. D. 
Charles E. Moss, Jr. 
Promoted Second Lieutenant Forty-first Missouri Infantry, Septem- 
ber 4th. 1864. 

Zachariah E. Thomas. * 
Promoted March 24th, 186-, to Eleventh Missouri Cavalry. 

COMPANY B. 
John M. Gates. 
Promoted First I^ieutenant Company A. Sixth Iowa (Javalry, Jan- 
uary 31st, 1863. 

Simon J. Toll. 
Promoted Second Lieutenant Sixth Iowa ('avalry. January 31st, 
1863. 

Robert W. Bodell. 
To accept promotion. 

Ezra ,]. Smith. 
Promoted February 14th, 1865, Twelfth Missouri Infantry. 

COMPANY C. 
William P. Allen. 

Promoted to Lieutenant Sixty-seventh United States Colored Infantry. 

Andrew W. Wyman. 
Promoted June 26th, 1864, First Lieutenant Company F, Second 
Arkansas ("avalry. 

Thaddeus J. Dean. 
Promoted September 12th. 1861, Captain in BisselTs Engineer Regi- 
ment of the West. 

COMPANY D. 
William H. Newman. 
Promoted March 12th, 1863. First Arkansas Infantry. 

DeWitt C. Kelly, 
Promoted June 8th, 1864. Hospital Steward U. S. A, (Dead.) 



312 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY, 

Elihu G. Barkek. 
Promoted One Hundred and Thirteenth U. S. Infantry, A. D. 

EWAKTS S. EWING. 

Promoted January 31st. 1866. Captain C. S. U. 8. Volunteers. 

COMPANY E. 
Mortimer B. Darkell. 
Promoted November 1st. 1861. to Eighteenth U. S. Infantry. 

COMPANY F. 
Richard L. Hoxie. 
Promoted June 15th, 1864, Cadetship at West Point. 

Charles H. Thompson. 
Promoted Captain C. S. U. S. Volunteers, August 30th. 1863. 

COMPANY G. 
Henry P. Gregory. 
Promoted November 18th. 1864, to Fourth Arkansas ('avalry. 

COMPANY I. 
John W. Madison. 
Promoted May 11th, 1863. Hospital Steward. Eighth Missouri 
( 'avalry. 

(COMPANY K. 
Frank Pease. 
Promoted January 10th. 1864, First Ivieutenant Third Arkansas 
( 'avalry. 

James A. Lyons. 
Discharged May 12th. 1862, for wounds. Promoted Lieutenant 
(Company A. Twenty-seventh Iowa Infantry, October 3d. 1862. 
George E. Dayton. 
Promoted January 31st. 1863. Lieutenant Company C, Sixth Iowa 
Cavalry. 

William P. Bowers. 
Promoted June 15th, 1864, Assistant Surgeon Eighth Missouri 
('avalry. 

COMPANY L. 
Daniel W. Mason. 
Promoted December 16th, 1863. First Lieutenant and Adjutant 
Third Arkansas Cavalry. 

Nathaniel W. Wellivek. 
Promoted October 14th, 1864. Lieutenant Fourth Arkansas Cavalry. 




v> ^N 





Walter S. Gray, Co. A. 

P. P. BUBKHALI., Co. H. 



Walter S. Hamdley, Co. 1! 
D. D. Burnett, Co. D. 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 313 

H. H. Heath. 
Promoted February 28th, 1863, Major Seventh Iowa Cavalry. Col- 
onel same regiment. May 81st. 1S6/) : and Brevet Brigadier General, 
March IHth, lM6o. 

COMPANY M. 

A. D. (iA.STON. 

Promoted Second Lieutenant Company A. Twenty-sixth Iowa In- 
fanti'y. 



40 



NECROLOGY. 



■' There is a reaper whose name is Death." 

" And by the cypresses softly o"ershadowed, 
Until the angel calls them, they slumber." 

It would perhaps been proper to have included a ■•Roll of Honr)r" 

of the namen of those who sleep in 

'■ Those low, green tents, 
Wliose eurtains never outward swing." 

but what greater tribute can I pay than your historian has so ably 

paid them in the preceding pages. • ■ They were active in the greatest 

struggle man has ever waged against his brother ; they stood where 

death was king and life a jest, in the hour of liberty's supremest need, 

and were victors in a cause whose success sent the sunshine of hope 

into the face of men of every clime upon whom there rested the heavy 

hand of oppression." I cannot add more. 

Since the close of the war many have answered "Here" to the last 

'• r-ol] call." who muster now beyond the starlit line. 

" He sleeps, but wakes elsewliere, 
For God has said Amen." 

" Kest. soldier ! By the father's hand 

Here shall the child of after years be led, 
With his wreath -offering silently to stand 

In the luished presence of the glorious dead." 

An ertort has been made to have the list of deaths since the return 
of the cavalrymen to private life, as nearly complete as i)Ossible : but it 
is difficult either to learn where all the living reside and follow their 
I'hanges. or to ascertain who among the members may die from year to 
year, and no doubt still other names should be added to the roster of 
the dead, if known. VIKCilNIA LOTHROl'. 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CA\ ALKY. 815 

DEATH ROLL SINCE THE WAR, 

AS FAR AS KNOWN. 

Colonel Fitz Henry Warren. 
Colonel James O. Gower. 
CJolonel J. W. Caldwell. 
Lieutenant Colonel Charles E. Moss. 
Surgeon Charles Henry Lothrop. 
Assistant Surgeon Thomas B. Drake. 
Assistant Surgeon John J. Saunders. 
Hospital Steward Edward Winters. 
Battalion Adjutant Joseph S. Edsall. 
Chaplain James W. Latham. 
Chaplain James S. Rand. 
Acting Sergeant Major Thomas Marsh. 
Captain R. M. Reynolds, Company A. 
('aptain William E. Leffingwell. Com[)Hny B. 
Captain Amos Dilley. Company L 
Captain Thomas H. Barnes, Company K. 
Captain H. H. Heath, Company L. 
Captain William Ankeny, Company M. 
Captain Solomon Townsend. Company M. 
Lieutenant John R. Marshall. Company A. 
Lieutenant A. P. Boyce. Company A. 
Lieutenant Jacob Hursh, Company D. 
Lieutenant George E. Ives. Company E. 
Lieutenant Warren Y. Reeves. Company L. 
Musician Gamaliel B. Williams. 
Farrier William Mann. 
John Herwick. Company A. 
William H. Carey. Company A. 
Albin Blood. Company A. 
Prentice K. Tuttle, Company A. 
Jonathan Ford, Company A. 
Benjamin Blair, Company A. 
E. Hollingsworth. Company A. 
L. B. Wisby, Company A. 
W. L. Soper. (/Ompany B. 
Charles E. Crocker. Company B. 
Orrin B. Crane, Company B. 
Francis Bias, Company B. 



316 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

H. B. Stockwell, Company B. 
William C. Brown, Company ('. 
Hiram Brown, Company C. 
Jesse Slough. Company D. 
Baylisa E. Lake, Company D. 
Whitman Corey, ('ompany 1). 
I). C. Kelley, Company D. 
W. A. Davis, Company E. 
L. S. Drink water. Company (i. 
John (lebhart. Company ii. 
James Stone. Company (t. 
Stephen (t. Rice, Company (4. 
James Craig-, Company H. 
Henry C. Harlan, Company I. 
(leorg-e W. Pi'iest. Company I. 
Noah W. Briels, Company I. 
Andrew Brownson. ("ompany L. 
Thomas Rhatigan. Company L. 
Louis LaFrance, Company L. 
Martin V. Lillie. Comiaany L. 
John Wilson. ( 'ompany M. 
.J. H. Tierney. Company M. 
J. H. Tietjens. Company M. 



PERSONAL SKETCHES. 



SURGEON (HAS. H. LOTHROP. 

The author of this book deserves prominence among' those of whom 
personal sketches are in the volume, both on account of his service with 
the First Cavalry Reg'iment of Iowa and because of his labors in massing 
its history within reasonable compass and within the reach of all. A 
correspondent wrote him. when the task was assumed, that he was not 
the right man for historian of the regiment, because he would not do him- 
self justice. The remark was correct, and yet. in all other respects, un- 
doubtedly Surgeon Lothrop was the most competent man in the organi- 
zation to chronicle its patriotic deeds of heroic yepa's. His abilities and 
methods of observation, his position and habit of making notes, added 
to his brotherly regard for and intense admiration of the soldiers of the 
command, rendered him the fittest man for the work — a labor of love 
and of life indeed to him. and of gratification to his compatriots. 

The paragraphs following are from different pens — written by ;i 
professional associate, a comrade of the war. and a citizen friend, (n 
portion of the latter's having before appeared in ]irint, ) — but altogethei- 
are very inadequate to the occasion. 

'I'he subject of this sketch. Charles Henry I^othi-oj). M. I)., was born 
at Taunton. Massachusetts. September 8d. 1X81. He was of English 
descent, and could proudly trace his lineage back through Rev. John 
Lothrop. who arrived in this coimtry September 18th. 1684. to the time 
of Richard the Se(;ond. 

After passing through the '^raunton high school and the University 
grammar school, he entered Krown Univei'sity and there fitted himself 
for the study of his chosen profession, leaving Brown University be- 
fore completing his course, to a(;ce])t the position of su])erint('ndrii1 of 



318 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

schools at Youngstown. Ohio, which position he held for a year. He 
then entered the medical department of the University of the City of 
New York, and after two years of professional study graduated from 
that institution June 80th, 1858. He located in Lyons, Iowa, in July 
of the same year, and at once took an eminent position among the phy- 
sicians, and by his studies, investigations and writings was known to 
the profession throughout the State as a man of ability in his calling. 

At the breaking out of the i-ebellion (xovernor Kirkwood appointed 
him Additional Assistant Surgeon of the First Iowa Cavalry. After- 
ward he was ])romoted to be Assistant Surgeon, and upon the retire- 
ment of Surgeon Cochran was promoted to be Surgeon of that regi- 
ment, which position he held until its final muster out in March, 1866. 

The ripe experience gained during the five years of service in the 
army, added to the firm foundation laid by his early studies, eminently 
fitted him upon his return home to become one of the foremost surgeons" 
of the day — a rank which he maintained to the day of his death ; and 
it is an evidence of the mental superiority of the man. that, in spite of 
the terrible affliction which he suffered — the germs of which wei-e con- 
tracted during those days of marching and nights of exposure which 
are so clearly depicted in the foregoing pages, and which for seventeen 
long years made bis life such a torture as none can conceive but those 
who were with him and attended him, and which he knew could only 
end in death — he could take such an interest in his profession as to 
maintain such a position. He died at his home in Lyons, Iowa, Feb- 
ruary 6th, 1890. 

The foregoing history, written by the regimental historian, the late 
Major and Surgeon Charles H. Lothrop, contains little mention of him- 
self or his personal services while Surgeon of our regiment. To me 
has been assigned this pleasant yet sad duty. I feel that others more 
able than myself should have undertaken this, and yet none can have 
a greater love or kinder remembrances of our dear comrade than the 
writer. Being but a boy when in the service, I shall always remember 
the many kind words spoken to me by him and the attention I re- 
ceived at his hands. 

Comrade Lothrop was greatly beloved by every member of his regi- 
ment. I am safe in saying that no regiment in the Union army received 
better care at the hands of their Surgeon than the First Iowa Cavalry 
while in charge of Dr. Lothrop. Always with the boys, whether on the 
battle field, the march, in the camp or hospital — during his four years 
of service he was on duty in fifty-two engagements — ever present, with 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 319 

nothing' but kind words and loving hands to minister to their wants. 
An ardent patriot, a true friend, a faithful surgeon, a man whose kind- 
ness of heart was exceeded only by his ability as a physician and svir- 
geon. • ' his boys " will ever remember in kindness the many sacrifices 
he made for them. 

General Burdett says : ■ • I desire to express my great admii-ation 
for the many qualities of his character which made him a man quite 
above the common level of our kind. No truer patriot, no braver sol- 
diei'. no kindlier man than Dr. Lothrop, was to be found among the 
survivors of the great strug-gle in which he won the love and admiration 
of his comrades." 

The truth of Comrade Burdett" s assertion can be testified to bj' all 
survivors of the First Iowa Cavalry. Courteous to all. the humblest 
private received the same consideration at his hands as did the Major 
General commanding the department. No officer in the regiment was 
more active than he to relieve the regiment of the dishonor cast upon 
it by General Custer. While some were evidently afraid to express 
their opinions. Comrade Lothrop was outspoken and fearless of the re- 
sult. Reporting the matter to the (Governor of Iowa, he was largely 
instrumental in causing the court martial of Custer and his retirement 
for a year from the army. 

What more can be said of our comrade than this l* He was beloved 
by all, and gave his life for the boys he loved so well. Ever anxious 
to relieve their suffering, he by over-work and exposure contracted the 
disease which caused such terrible suffering the last twenty years of his 
life and culminated in his death. Mourned by all lovers of the Union, 
he will be sadly missed by all his old comrades, in whose intei'est he 
labored so long and faithfully. May he rest in peace. 

The Doctor was a prominent figure in Lyons, professionally and per- 
sonally, for thirty years, notwithstanding the fact that ])aralysis de- 
prived him of the use of his lower limbs seventeen years ago. Under 
this disadvantage he has. by indomitable will, and as a consequence of 
his acknowledged skill as physician and sui-geon. attended to a large 
office practice most of the time, besides discharging the duties of Ex- 
amining Surgeon for Pensions : and further, has compiled and i.ssued 
State Medical Directories, and performed other autorial labors. His 
latest, most valuable and most laborious literary achievement has been 
the writing of a history of the First Iowa Cavalry, which, with the helj) 
of his wife as amanuensis, aftei' years of cori'('s])ond('iice and investiga- 
lioii. was practically com])leted a few wet'l<:s before his dt-atli. 



o2() HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

From ''A Genealogical Memoii- of the La-Lothrop Family/' pub- 
lished in 1884, though in part tautological, we extract: --Dr. Lothrop 
is a member of the Iowa and Illinois Central Medical Association, the 
Iowa State Medical Society, and the American Medical Association. 
He has also been an efficient President of the Clinton County Medical 
Society, a member of the Examining Committee of the Medical Depart- 
ment Iowa State University, and since 1868 an Examining Surgeon for 
I'ensions. He is author of the Medical and Surgical Directory of Iowa, 
and has written several medical essays, some of which have been pub- 
lished in the Boston Medical and Surgical Journal. "" 

He was a member of Colonel N. B. Howard Post, G. A. R., of De 
Witt, a member- of the military order of the Loyal Legion, and the 
'" Chai'les H. Lothrop Camp, Sons of Veterans." of Dysart, Iowa, was 
named after him — which honor he reciprocated by the presentation of 
a superb banner. 

Dr. Lothrop was a man of earnest convictions and strong feelings, 
and like all such men made hearty friends and bitter enemies. At his 
best, he was an intense patriot whose ardor continued to the end ; a 
faithful comrade, rendering his work on the history of his regiment a 
genuine labor of love ; an unfaltering and valued friend where he was 
friendly : and at the close was moved to the depths of his heart with 
gratitude for the hourly care given him by his wife for nearly a score 
of years, which unremitted attention alone made life tolerable. 

Upon no other Army Surgeon have we ever heard so much praise 
bestowed by soldiers as upon Di". Lothrop — and the First Iowa Cavalry 
passed through many scenes where the worth of Surgeon as well as 
fighting men was fully tried — and his proudest memento was the regard 
of the men with whom he had encountered the dangers of war. and 
many of whom he had rescued from death. 

REGISTER OF SERVICE. 

In Department of Missouri, from May 26th to September 20th, 1862. 
In Army of Southwest Missouri, from September 28th to October 16th, 
l(S62. In Army of the Frontier, from October 16th, 1862. to June 5th. 
1 S63. With Arkansas expedition, from June 5th, and in Army of Ark- 
ansas and Seventh Ai-my Corps, Cavalry Division, from December, 1863. 
to May. 1864. In Department of Missouri, from July to December. 
1863. In Department of Arkansas. January, 1865. In District of West 
Tennessee, from February to June, 1865. In Division of the Gulf, fi-om 
June 23d to February loth, 1866. 

On detached service, in charge of Post Hospital at Clinton, Missouri. 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 321 

May 26th. 1862. Medical Director Army of the Frontier, December 
10th, 1862, and in charge of Field Hospital at Fayetteville, Arkansas. 
Member of Medical Board to examine qualifications of an Assistant 
Surg-eon, May 27th, 1863. In charge of the Bloomfield General Field 
Hospital. July 17th, 1863. President of Medical Board for examina- 
tion of cavalrymen recommended for discharg-e for disability, October 
13th. 1863. Assigned to duty in Seventh Army Corps Hospital, April 
7th, 1864. Senior Surg-eon of brigade. October 13th. 1864. Surgeon- 
in-Chief of Cavalry Division, January 22d, 1865. Senior Surgeon of 
brigade. April. 1865. President of Medical Board for examination of 
officers and enlisted men. August 2d, 1865. In charge of hospital 
steamer Starlight to New Orleans, August 7th. 1865. Senior Surgeon 
of brigade, February 7th, 1866. 

— Desultory and lacking as these tributes to Surgeon Lothrop but 
profess to be, full acknowledgment of the intelligent and indispensable 
supervision of publication by Mrs. Lothrop should here be made by As- 
sociation committee and printer. In the preparation of the history, and 
more and more as the woi-k advanced, and as his powers failed, she 
had been feet and hands, eyes and pen to the author ; and when no 
longer able to direct the final details, he was fully content to constitute 
his co-laborer his literary legatee— and the wisdom of his trust is at- 
tested by the unusual completeness and correctness of his great work. 

Sakah Virginia Lothrop. born at Gettysburgh, Pennsylvania, De- 
cember 26th, 1840. Married to Charles Henry Lothrop May 6th, 1873. 
Widowed February 6th. 1890. 

COLONEL DANIEL ANDERSON. 

Was born April 5th, 1821, in Monroe county, Indiana, and raised on a 
farm, with the ordinary limited means for education incident to a newly 
settled country. After his majority he improved his education for two 
years in a better class of schools, and then taught school and read law 
until 1847, when he was admitted to the bai-, and came to Iowa in Feb- 
ruary. 1848 ; stopped at Keokuk one year, and on May 1st. 1849, settled 
perm.anently at Albia, Monroe county. Iowa, and commenced the prac- 
tice of his profession. On October 14th. 1849. he was married to Miss 
Amanda M. Harrow, who is now his wife and mother of his five stal- 
wart sons, (and a daughter and son dead. ) 

He was elected State Senator August. 1854, and again in October, 

1858 — was in six sessions, the last one. May. 1861: and same month 

volunteered and helped to raise the old regiment. Served as Captain 

of Company H from its organization until he was made Major. July 
41 



322 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

10th, 1862 : Lieutenant Colonel. February IStli, 1863 : Colonel. Aug-ust 
21st. 1863. and so remained until discharged for disability about June 
1st, 1864. Was a Lincoln Elector in fall of 1864. Was offered a nomi- 
nation for Congress, but could not accept on account of ill health. Was 
Register in Bankruptcy after 1867 for several years. He thinks better 
of his three years' service vi'ith the old regiment than any other three 
years of his life. 

t;OLONEL WILLIAM THOMPSON. 

Was born in Manallen township, Fayette county. Pennsylvania. No- 
vember 10th. 1S13. Was moved to Mount Vernon. Ohio, in the spring 
of 1817. and was moved into the wilderness, where the old Thompson 
homestead — since made — now stands : where he lived and worked until 
after twenty-one years old. His early education was limited, having 
attended only six winter (three months') common schools, taught 
mainly by the old-time Irish schoolmaster. He read law and other 
studies with Columbus Delano, and in three years and a half was cred- 
itably admitted to the practice of law in the Supreme Court of Ohio. 

In 1839 he went to Iowa, where he attained many unanticipated civic 
and military distinctions. 

MAJOR LEVI CHASE. 

Was born October 23d. 1823. in Washington county. State of Maine, 
(iraduated at the Collegiate Institute at Nunda, State of New Yoi-k, in 
April, 1846. By profession an attorney at law. At the commencement 
of the war was practicing his profession in Louisa county, Iowa. Mus- 
tered into the service with the regiment as CajDtain of Company C. Was 
assigned to the command f)f the post of Osceola, and the southern divis- 
ion of (Colonel Warren's District of Missouri, in the spring of 1862, and 
held this command until the fall of that year, when the post was vaca- 
ted, and the regiment joined (General James C. Blvint. First Division 
Army of Southwest Missouri, at Springfield, Missouri, and moved south 
into Arkansas. Was commissioned as 'Major Febrviary 1st, 1863. and 
after the capture of Little Rock. Arkansas, was by the order of the 
(General commanding assigned to the command of Removint Camp, at 
Little Rock, established for the purpose of remounting the cavalry di- 
vision, and ])utting it in condition for service. He held this command 
until February 12th. 1X64. when he was mustered out on the Sui'geon's 
certificate of disability. Broken down in health by exposure in the 
servi(^e. unable to -engage in active business, he removed to the State of 
( 'alifornia and settled at San Diego in that State : and having there re- 
covered his health, commenced and continued the practice of his pro- 



I 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CIAVALRV. 323 

fession until January, 1H8S, when he retired from active business to 
enjoy the fruits of his labors, under the sunny skies of his chosen home, 
protected by the just and grenerous Government that he had helped to 
save from dissolution. 

SUKGEON MILTON B. COCHRAN. 

Milton B. Cochran, M. I)., was born in Cambridge. Franklin county, 
Vermont. June 7th. 1828, and moved with his parents to Milan, Erie 
county. Ohio, in 1836. His father was a soldier in the war of 1812, and 
his grandfather was a Lieutenant in the Vermont voluntears in the Rev- 
olutionary war. 

The early education of Dr. Cochran was obtained in the district 
schools and the Huron Institute in Milan. In 1849 he commenced the 
study of medicine under Dr. L. Galpin. of Milan, and graduated from 
the medical department of the Western Reserve College, of (Cleveland. 
Ohio, in 18/)L After his graduation he went to Delaware county, Ohio, 
where he resided until 1854, when he moved to Iowa City, Iowa. 

He enlisted in what became Company F. First Iowa Cavalry, in 
April, 1861. and upon the organization of the regiment he was commis- 
sioned Surgeon. He served with the regiment until November, 1862. 
when he was detached to serve as Medical Director of the Third Divis- 
ion of the Array of the Frontier. He was with the Army of the Fron- 
tier in all its marches and engagements from its organization until it 
was disbanded, and was appointed Medical Director- of that army in 
March, 1863. In June, 1863, he was ordered to accompany Major 
General Herron to Vicksburg, Mississippi, as Surgeon-in-Chief of the 
left wing of the investing forces. After the capture of Vicksburg he 
accompanied the army to Yazf)o. Port Hudson. Moi-ganza and New 
Orleans. 

At his own request, in October he was ordered to rejoin the First 
Iowa, then at Little Rock. Arkansas. Arriving at Little Rock late in 
November, he was at once assigned to the Cavalry Division of the Sev- 
enth Corps, under Brigadier General Davidson, as Surgeon-in-Chief. in 
which position he remained until March following. When the army 
under Major General Steele commenced the Camden expedition, he was 
assigned Medical Director of the Seventh Corps in the field. After the 
army reached Camden, Arkansas, Surgeon Cochran was ordered to ac- 
company a detachment of the Thirty-sixth Iowa Infantry and the 
Seventy-seventh Ohio to Pine Bluff, to obtain supplies for the army ; 
and on the 25th of April the escort, consisting of about 1,500 infantry, 
two sections of artillery, and one company of cavalry, under Lieutenant 



324 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

C.'olonel Drake, of the Thirty-sixth Iowa, was attacked by a large body 
of rebel cavalry under Major General Fegan. fresh from the repulse of 
Major General Banks on Red river, and the entire command, except a 
few of the cavalry, after a most stubborn fight was killed or captured. 
Of the artillery every man and hox*se was killed or wounded. The reb- 
els held the field. After a week of captivity. Surgeon Cochran was re- 
leased on the promise that he would send hospital supplies for the 
wounded, (about 500 in all, ) both Union and rebel forces being desti- 
tute. Two days after Surgeon Cochran reached Pine Bluff, sent back 
the supplies promised, and went to Little Rock, where he joined the 
First Iowa again, to return to Iowa on veteran furlough. 

In May. 1864, he was appointed Assistant Surgeon United States 
Volunteers, but his commission did not reach him until the August fol- 
lowing, when he resigned as Surgeon of the First Iowa Cavalry, and 
was assigned to hospital duty at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. 

In September he was appointed Chief of the Medical Examining Board 
of Surgeons, and sent to Benton Barracks. The duty of the board was 
to examine all drafted men and substitutes of the Department of the 
Missouri. The circular of the Adjutant General of the Army directing 
the Surgeon General to establish these Examining Boards, directed that 
the medical officers constituting them • • should be selected so as to give 
some of the best talent of the medical corps for the especial purpose of 
examining recruits."' 

Surgeon Cochran remained at Benton Barracks as long as the board 
was in existence, and was then ordered to take charge of the military 
hospital at Alton. Illinois. In April he was ordered to take charge of 
the (xeneral Hospital at Benton Barracks. Missouri, where he remained 
until November, 1865, when he was ordered to Iowa City to be mus- 
tered out of service. In May he was commissioned Surgeon of United 
States Vohmteers, and on November 1st. 1865. he was appointed Lieu- 
tenant Colonel by brevet. 

In 1866 he removed from Iowa City to Davenport, where he resided 
until 1884. when he removed to Shawano. Wisconsin. In 1890 he re- 
turned to Iowa City, his present home. 

He was one of the organizers of the State Histoi'ical Society of Iowa, 
of which he was two years corresponding secretary; was president of 
the Iowa State Medical Society in 1863 ; was elected a member of the 
American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1889 ; and has 
always been an active member of the local medical and scientific organ- 
izations in places in which he has resided. 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 325 

ASSISTANT SURGEON ASA MORGAN. 

Dr. Asa Morg-an was born in Dayton, Ohio, on the 22d day of Feb- 
ruary, 1826. In the fall of 1833 his father removed to Indiana and 
settled at Thornton, Boone county, the town at this time being the re- 
mains of an old Indian village, with many of the cabins still standing 
and serving the new-comers for shelter until they could build better 
ones. He endured the hardships and privations of frontier life, and 
lived to see the place grow into a flourishing town, with good schools, 
churches, stores, etc., when his father migrated with his family to Iowa 
in the fall of 1846. and settled on a farm near Davenport. The coming 
winter he taught school in Rockingham, Iowa. He was now in his 21st 
year. He taught three successive winters, reading medicine at inter- 
vals, and working on his father^s farm during summers. 

He read medicine under Dr. Wm. H. White, of Davenport, during 
the winter of 1849-50. and attended a partial course of lectures at the 
College of Physicians and Surgeons of the Upper Mississippi, located 
there at the time. He took his next course at Rush Medical College, 
('hicago. at the session of 1850-51. He attended his last course at the 
Iowa University College of Physicians and Surgeons, at Keokuk, Iowa, 
session 1851-52. when he graduated at the close, and located in the 
practice of medicine at De Witt, Iowa, in March, same year. 

He married the only daughter of Mr. C. A. Isbel, in November, 1854. 
In the fall of 1857 he removed with his family, and located in the prac- 
tice of his profession at Pacific City. Mills county, Iowa. When the 
discovery of gold in the Rocky Mountains was first made known, he 
with many others living on the fi'ontier immediately made i*eady, and 
started on a trip to the auriferous fields early in 1859. After arriving 
there and prospecting a few weeks in the mountains, he made up hLs 
mind that gold digging there could not be made to pay without the ex- 
penditure of large capital, and thereupon he returned to the States the 
same summer, settled up his business at his new home on the Missouri 
river, and returned to his old home at De Witt, Iowa, where he pur- 
sued the practice of medicine until August, 1861, when he received a 
commission as Assistant Surgeon of the Seventh Iowa Regiment Infant- 
ry Volunteers, and joined his regiment same month at Iron Mountain : 
was with it on duty — overworked much of the time, and enduring many 
hard marches and suffering from the privations and disadvantages of 
soldiering at the commencement of the war — he fell sick, and finally 
became so debilitated and broken down in health, that soon after the 
first battle of Corinth he resigned, the last of June, 1862, and returned 



326 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

home with a shattered and broken constitution. After remainino- home 
some two years, and health much improved, through the influence of 
his tried and true friend of many years, Dr. C. H. Lothrop, then Sur- 
g-eon of the Fii-st Iowa Cavalry Volunteers, the Governor of Iowa com- 
missioned him Assistant Sui-geon of that regiment, in December, 1864, 
with which he remained in that capacity only a few months, when he 
was promoted, and commissioned by the Governor of Illinois Surgeon 
of the Twelfth Illinois Regiment Cavalry Volunteers, in June, I860, 
and served with that regiment until after the close of the war, and was 
mustered out at Houston, Texas, in May, 1866, and became a citizen of 
Texas, buying a farm on Cedar Bayou, near Galveston Bay, where he 
now resides and still follows the vocation of his calling. 

ADJUTANT H. L. MORRILL. 

Born at Guilford, Somerset county, Maine, April -Ith, 1886. Emi- 
grated with his parents to Illinois in 1837, and to Iowa in January, 
1841. Educated in private and common schools and academies of Iowa. 
Enlisted in the vokmteer service during the rebellion, in the First Iowa 
Cavalry, June 13th, 1861. Mustered out with the rank of First Lieu- 
tenant and Adjutant, and brevet Major, March loth, 1866. Entered 
railway service July, 1870, and in such service contiuously until the 
present time — now, November 1st, 1889, Second Vice President and 
General Manager of the St. Louis and San Francisco Railway C'ompany. 
Residence and address, St. Louis, Missouri. 

ADJUTANT DAVID A. KERR. 
Was born in Jacksonville, Illinois, August 7th, 1838. Enlisted as a 
private in Company A, First Iowa Cavalry, June 13th, 1861, and mus- 
tered in as first sergeant C'ompany A, July 30th, 1861. Promoted Ad- 
jutant of the First Battalion, October 7th, 1861, Was in the engage- 
ment at Silver Creek, Missouri, January 8th, 1862, and was severely 
wounded in the right arm at Big Creek Cliffs, Cass county, Missouri, 
July 11th, 1862. Promoted Adjutant of the regiment October 1st, 1862. 
Was with the command at battle of Prairie Grove, Arkansas, Decembei- 
7th, 1862. His wound incapacitating him for field duty, he tendered his 
r-esignation on Surgeon's certificate of disability, which was accepted 
February 6th, 1863. Returned to place of enlistment, Keokuk, Iowa, 
and engaged in the drug business, and has resided there ever since. 

O. P. SALA — C^OMPANY A. 
Was born in Bee Town, Grant county, Wisconsin, December 22d, 
1845, His father, E. M. Sala, was a physician practicing medicine. 



HISTORY OK FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 327 

His mother^s name before marriage was Susan Schellanburger. In 
185:^ his father moved to Ashley, Pike county, Missouri. He moved his 
family out on a farm three miles from town, and he remained in the 
town with his father, who was a physician, but too old to practice medi- 
cine, and remained in the office and drug store. He remained there 
about two years, and then moved to West Point, Lee county. Iowa. 
Here he spent his boyhood days in going to school, attending the West 
Point Collegiate School three or four years. 

In the summer of 1861 he ran away from home and enlisted in 
Fletcher's flying artillery, which was located at Burlington. Iowa, Be- 
ing quite young, his father took him out of the battery. He remained 
at home until the next spring and went to school. Then he went to 
Keokuk, Iowa, and got a position in the Estis House Hospital as wound 
dresser of the first ward. Remained there until August, when he en- 
listed in the Thirtieth Iowa Infantry, but on the 31st of August was 
transferred to the First Iowa Cavalry. Joined the regiment at Twin 
Springs just before the battle of Prairie Grove. On the 1st of January. 

1864, he re-enlisted as a veteran volunteer, for three years or during 
the war. and came home on a veteran furlough ; in May was sent to 
the Keokuk Hospital with the ague, and remained there until February. 

1865, when he rejoined his regiment at St. Louis, Missouri, and then 
went to Texas with General Custer, and was mustered out at Austin, 
Texas. February loth, 1866. 

When he returned home he began the study of medicine again, and 
during the summer of 1866 went to Keokuk, Iowa, and got a position 
in Dr. Sanford's Surgical Infirmary, and during the winter he attended 
what was then called the Iowa State Medical University. In the spring 
of 1867 he was married to the girl who remained true to him while he 
was fighting for his country. Miss Ina Stewart, of West Point, Lee 
county. Iowa. During the summer, fall and spring of 1867-68 his wife 
taught school and he returned to Keokuk and finished his medical edu- 
cation, and then located in Franklin Center, Iowa, and practiced medi- 
cine initil the next spring, when he moved to Blooinington, Grant 
county, Wisconsin, where he has lived ever since. In 1880 his wife 
died, leaving him with four boys. In 1881 he was married to Alice 
Bowen. and has two daughters by her, by adoption. He is now in his 
44th year, and in good health, all but the rheumatism in his back, 
caused from the ague while in the United States service. Is a mem- 
ber of Will Hickok Post, No, 1:34, G. A. R,, located at Bloomington, 
Wisconsin, and a member of l>loomington Lodge, No, lo9, I. O, O. F. ; 



328 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

also a member of the Blue Lodge, No. 146, A. F. and A. M.. of Bee 
Town, Wisconsin, and of the Chapter at Lancaster, and of the DeMolay 
Commandery, No. 15, Boscobel, Wisconsin. 

G. R. MILLER— Company A. 
' ♦ My life has been too uneventful to send a sketch of it. I was born 
in Cambridge, New York, in 1834 ; came to Iowa in 1855 ; enlisted June 
13th, 1861, at Keokuk; re-enlisted January 1st, 1864, at Little Rock. 
Arkansas; discharged at Austin. Texas, February 14th, 1866." Now 
resides at Belinda. Lucas county, Iowa. 

WALTER S. GRAY— Company A. 

Sergeant Walter S, Gray, of Keokuk, Iowa, was born in Belmont 
county. Ohio, in 1831. where he resided until 1855, when he located in 
Indiana. In 1856 he removed to Keokuk and engaged in the pork 
packing business until the financial crisis of 1857, when he went to 
Memphis, Tennessee, and engaged in the sash, door and blind manu- 
facture. He remained there until 1861, when all Unionists were driven 
from the city, losing all he had. He returned to Keokuk and im- 
mediately enlisted. Re-enlisted with the regiment in 1864, but was re- 
jected because of ill health, and discharged in September of the same 
year with others of the regiment. Since then has been engaged in the 
lumber business at Keokuk. 

CAPTAIN S. S. BURDETT— Company B. 

Samuel Swineford Burdett was born in England, and when twelve 
years old with his elder brother landed on the American shores and 
settled in Elyria, Ohio. In due time he became a student of Oberlin 
College and graduated with high honors, after which he came to Iowa, 
settling at DeWitt. He read law, was admitted to the bar, and soon 
won a leading position as a, lawyer. At the beginning of the war he 
joined the ai-my of the Union, enlisting in the First Iowa Cavalry, and 
soon became Captain of Company B. In 1863 he was detailed as judge 
advocate at a station where he remained during the rest of the struggle. 

The war over he married an Iowa girl, and soon took up his abode 
at Osceola, Missouri, where he practiced law. He was elected to Con- 
gress in 1868, a^nd again in 1870. Between July l.st, 1874, and October. 
1877, he was Commissioner of the General Land Office, an appointment 
he resigned on account of failing health. Extensive travel renewed his 
vigor, and he became partner in a lucrative law business at Washing- 
ton. He has made considerable money, and owns the beautiful Wash- 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 329 

ing'ton residence in whichi Mrs. Burdett and he entertain their numerous 
visitors. 

He was elected Department Commander of the Department of the 
Potomac, G. A. R., in 1881, and re-elected in 1882 to the same position. 
In 1885, at Portland, Maine, he was chosen Commander-in-Chief of the 
(Jrand Army. "Though born in England, General Burdett is thor- 
oughly American in every sense of the word, and by his tnilitary and 
civil services to his adopted country has contributed much to its wel- 
fare. As a member of Congress he had been appealed to in aid of 
many pensioners, and as Commissioner of the General Land Office had 
been importuned to give employment and aid to soldiers seeking em- 
ployment ; consequently he was keenly alive to all their needs, and 
could, as Commander-in-Chief, assist them in many ways. Members 
in good standing at the close of General Burdett's administration ag- 
gregated 295,337, which he insisted should have been many more, but 
for the carelessness of Post ofKcers who had not properly looked after 
and reported members.'' 

CAPTAIN J. T. FOSTER— Company B. 

Joseph T. Foster was enlisted as fourth sergeant in C^ompany B, 
First Iowa Cavalry, on the 1st day of May. 1861. at Lyons, Iowa. Was 
mustered into the United States service for three years on the 31st day 
of July, 1861. Was appointed Sergeant Major of First Battalion, Oc- 
tober 7th, 1861. Wounded July 11th. 1861, at Big Creek Cliffs. Trans- 
ferred to first sergeant Company B. September 25th. 1862. First Lieu- 
tenant same company, December 21st, 1862 : mustered February 7th. 
1863. Captain same company. August 5th. 1864 ; mustered October 
1st, 1864. Mustered out of service February 15th, 1866, at Austin. 
Texas. Appointed First Lieutenant Eighth United States Cavalry. 
April 7th, 1866. Served on the Pacific coast, at Benecia Barracks, An- 
gels Island, Fort C-hurchill. Nevada, and Fort McDermott, Nevada. 
Resigned February 10th, 1869. 

Participated in all the battles and skirmishes with his company from 
September 25th, 1862. till the day of muster out. 

CAPTAIN H. S. HEBERLING— Company B. 

Was born on December 25th, 1839, and comes of German and Scotch 

parents, whose ancestors came to Virginia and Pennsylvania about one 

hundred and fifty years ago. John Heberling. his grandfather, as well 

aH John Coble, his other grandparent, were both soldiers in the war of 

1812, and natives of this country. His father, John Heberling, a resi- 

dient still of Miles, Iowa, and a native of Virginia, was an abolitionist 
42 



330 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

of the most pronounced type ; while his brother, Dr. James Heberling, 
was a resident of Missouri and espoused the Confederate cause. The 
Captain was therefore of a temperament known among soldiers as 
••fiery.'' He enlisted ae a private at Lyons, Iowa, on May 5th, 1861. 
in a company that became B of the First Iowa Cavalry, and served as 
duty sergeant, orderly or first sergeant. Second Lieutenant, and at close 
of war was Ambulance Officer and A. A. A. Q. M. Second Cavalry Di- 
vision. Military Division of the Guli, with rank of Captain by brevet. 
and now, by the courtesy of comrades in whose welfare he feels a deep 
interest, , is President of the First Iowa Cavalry Veteran Volunteer 
Association. 

B. S. WOODWARD— Company B. 
Born October 31st, 1831! at East Haven, New Haven county, Con- 
necticut. Came to Lyons in 1857. Enlisted in Company B, First Iowa 
Cavalry, in July, 1861, and served three years, returning to Lyons, 
where he still resides. Connected with the Lamb lumber mills the last 
twenty-five years as manager of sale department. 

H. P. SHIFFER— Company B. 

Was born in Chenango county, New York, July 17th, 1833. Came 
to Iowa in 1857. Enlisted in First Iowa Cavalry, May 5th, 1861. as a 
private. Mustered out in Austin. Texas, February 15th, 1866, as First 
Lieutenant. Remained in the South for his health until he went to 
the Leavenworth Soldiers' Home in 1887. 

ISAAC RH(7DES— Company B. 
The subject of this sketch was born the 1st of February, 1822. in the 
county of Kent. England. ••Father emigrated to America in August. 
1837; I came to Iowa in October, 1853. When President Lincoln called 
for three months' men in April. 1861, I enlisted for that service. There 
was a company raised and officered, but we were rather behind, for 
when the company was tendered the State the regiment was full, and 
that left US out. Then a number of us, on May 15th, enrolled into what 
was termed the Hawkeye Rangers, and when the order was issued for 
a cavalry regiment our company was tendered and accepted, and was 
known as Company B. I was appointed color bearer, and carried the 
company banner till the regiment was organized into battalions. The 
guidon had to be carried by a sergeant, and that caused me to lay the 
company banner by. In July, 1862, I was appointed chief blacksmith 
of the regiment, and held that position till the 31st of March, 1864. 
when I. was detailed to work in the Little Rock (Arkansas) Arsenal, in 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 331 

the armor department, under the command of Lieutenant Thomas D. 
Witt. Chief Ordnance Officer, and was there till August, when I was 
relieved from duty, and with the detachment of non-veterans came to 
Davenport. Iowa, where I was mustered out of the United States service 
on the 10th day of September, 186-i.'" 

M. M. CHATFIELU— Company B. 
Was born in Medina county. Ohio. December 5th, 1841. Came to 
Minnesota in 1858. In the spring of '61 went to Clinton county. Iowa, 
visiting, and enlisted in Comjjany B. First Iowa Cavalry. Served until 
February 15th, 1866. Have lived in Minnesota and Iowa ever since. 

ORRIN B. CRANE— Company B. 

Was born in Putnam county. New York. April "id. 1834. In 1836 
his parents removed to Seneca county, where they resided until 1849. 
Thence to Orleans county. His education was obtained at the district 
school, and in the winter of 1854 he taught school in the town of Water- 
port. In the spring of 1854 he with two elder brothers came to Jones 
county, Iowa, and as he was brought up on the farm he continvied the 
same occupation until the spring of 1859, when he with three others 
started for California, overland route, with thi-ee yokes of cattle. They 
followed the line of emigration as far as Laramie ; then as there was 
quite an outburst at Pike's Peak the party tur'ned off and landed in the 
new Eldorado. It was then getting late in the season for moving, and 
they began to look for winter quarters, and drifted south to Taos. New 
Mexico, and returned to the mines for the summer. Thence back to 
Jones county, Iowa, in the fall. The following winter he was deputy 
recorder, which place he occujjied until he enlisted. 

After returning from the army he served three temns as Sheriff of 
the county, commencing in 1868. at the expiration of which he engaged 
with Daniel Stewart to canvass for his county maj) in the States of 
Ohio and Michigan. He remained with him a year and a half. His 
health was then so much impaired that he returned to Anamosa. His 
disease had then taken a strong hold and continued to increase until 
the spring of 1876. when he succumbed to that fatal disease, consump- 
tion, which was undoubtedly caused by a rebel bullet that could not be 
extracted from his wound and had worked down to the left lung. He 
left a wife and two children. 

PHIL. H. FRANCIS— Company B. 
Phil. H. Francis, Secretary and Treasurer of the First Iowa (^avalry 
Veteran Volunteer Association, was born in Lyons, Iowa, November 



832 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVAL.RY. 

3d. 1848. Educated in the public schools of Lyons. Served as private 
in B company. Began the study of law soon after returning home ; 
was admitted to the bar in 1875 ; practiced the profession until 1883. 
when he was elected Chief of Police of Cedar Rapids, which position 
he held till April. 1890, when declining a re-election he resumed the 
practice of law. 

CAPTAIN WILLIAM PRESCOTT ALLEN— Company C. 

Born Momaston, Maine. September 1st, 1843 ; son of Rev. L. B. 
Allen, D. D.. a Baptist clergyman. Moved to Burlington, Iowa, at age 
of 14 years. Enlisted as a private of Company C, First Iowa Cavalry 
Volunteers, at age of 17 years. Re-enlisted in same regiment as veter- 
an volunteer at Little Rock. Arkansas. Appointed Second Lieutenant 
Sixty-seventh United States Colored Infantry in 1863 : regiment consoli- 
dated with Sixty-fifth United States Colored Infantry in 1864 ; and was 
promoted First Lieutenant and Adjutant. Appointed Post Adjutant. 
Baton Rouge. Louisiana, and breveted Captain in 1864. Mustered out 
with "regiment at Benton Barracks. Missouri, in 1865. Came to Minne- 
sota and engaged in Government land surveys for five years, then went 
into lumber business. At present, vice president and manager of C. N. 
Nelson Lumber Company : residence at Cloquet. Minnesota. He is a 
widower, with two children. 

LIEUTENANT CLINTON M. TURNER— Company C. 

Was born May '21th. 183.5. in .lefferson county. Indiana. Re- 
moved to Iowa with parents at the age of five years, when Iowa was a 
territory. Was raised on a farm. At the breaking out of the rebellion 
was a miller and engineer. Enlisted on the night of the 14th of April. 
1861, for the First Infantry of Iowa, but owing to the rush of companies 
did not get into the First or Seventh Infantry as expected. Finallj- 
went with a squad of sixteen to Burlington, and enlisted in Company 
C First Iowa Cavalry. Was elected first corporal upon organization 
of the company. In 1862 was promoted to commissary and quarter- 
master sergeant. In the veteran organization in 1864 was commissioned 
Second Lieutenant, and in the same year was promoted to First Lieu- 
tenant. Under the veteran organization was detailed at different times 
to command ( 'orapanies I. L and B. in absence of other commissioned 
officers. 

Participated in all campaigns and engagements of the regiment, 
closing with the expedition under General Custer into Texas. Was 
never in hospital a day. Was mustered out with regiment at Daven- 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAV>L,RY. 333 

port, March 15th, 1866 — lacking but thirty days of five years from date 
of first enlistment. 

PAUL HENDRICKS— Company C. 
Was born February 25th, 1838, in Decatur county, Indiana. At the 
age of three years his parents moved to the then far west, the south- 
eastern part of Iowa. Here he lived until the date of his enlistment as 
a recruit, in August, 1862, in the First Iowa Cavalry, Company C, 
serving one year. He then re-enlisted as a veteran, and served until 
the close of the war. When he first left home to fight for the stripes 
and stars he was engaged as a farmer in Lee county, Iowa. Leaving 
behind a wife and one year old baby girl, he and his only brother Will- 
iam went to help fill up the regiment. At the close of the war he was 
mustered out as color bearer of his company. He escaped the prison 
pens of the South, the balls of the Johnnies, but, like all other soldiers 
who went nobly to the front, he gave his youth and health for his 
country. On his return home he emigrated to Bates county, Missouri, 
where he resided sixteen years. He then visited his mother, (his father 
having died duinng the war,) in Iowa, on his way to South Dakota, in 
1881, where he now resides with his family, in Hyde county. He is 
the father of five children, one son and four daughters, of whom two 
died in infancy. Although an old man in looks, with very poor health, 
he loves to meet the old veterans and talk over old times and tell war 
stories as well as ever. 

REMEMBRANCE M. SWAN— Company C. 
Born in Marshall county. West Virginia. July 27th, 1835. Emi- 
grated with his parents, Henry and Esther Swan, to Henry county, 
Iowa, on the 8th day of April, A. D. 1838. Ex-member of Company C, 
First Iowa Volunteer Cavalry. Also member of the Masonic order, 
Danville Lodge, No. 48, of Danville, Iowa. Also of the Grand Army 
of the Republic, Burlington, where he resides. His father, Henry V. 
Swan, was a Lieutenant in Company G, Thirty-seventh Iowa Volunteer 
Infantry. Occupation through life, farmer and stock dealer ; formerly 
bred the Jersey cattle. Also taught a great many terms of school, i7i 
his younger days, in DesMoines and Henry counties, Iowa. 

D. D. BURNETT— Company D. 

Was born in East Plymouth, Ashtabula county, Ohio, August 9th. 
1839. Was raised on a farm. At the age of 21 years, in 186D. went to 
Iowa. In June, 1861, enlisted in Captain P. Gad Bryan's Company D, 
First Iowa Cavalry. Was wounded at Greer's Place, south of Lexing- 



334 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

ton, Missouri, in March, 1862 ; was sent home on furlough ; rejoined 
regiment in July, 1862, and remained with company until December, 
1863, when he was sent to General Hospital at Little Rock, Arkansas, 
as unfit for field service on account of rheumatism. Remained there 
until ordered home to be mustered out in September, 1864. Returned 
to Ohio, and was married in February, 1865. Went to Iowa and lived 
one year, then returned to Ashtabula, Ohio, where he now resides. In 
March, 1872. was run over by cars and lost his right leg below the 
knee. In 1883 he went into trade as a grocer, which he still follows. 
Is a member of Paulus Post, No. 4, Department of Ohio, G. A. R. 

A. F. WILDASIN— Company E. 
Was born in York county, Pennsylvania, October lOth, 1836. "My 
father removed with his family to Clark county, Ohio, in 1840, eight 
miles west of Springfield, on the old National road, where I was reared, 
and received simply a common school education. On the 18th day of 
August, 1857, I was married to Mary E. Howett, near Troy, Miami 
county, Ohio, near which place I lived until the spring of 1860, when 
we moved to the State of Iowa, and engaged in farming with the most 
flattering prospects of success. But in the spring of '61 the war broke 
out, and I enlisted in the First Cavalry during the entire war. I ap- 
pend my military history. Enlisted as a private in Company E, First 
Iowa Cavalry, on the 28th of July, 1861. Was promoted to eighth 
corporal October 25th, 1861; seventh corporal. May 12th, 1862; sixth 
corporal. June 8th, 1862; fifth corporal. August 6th, 1862; and on the 
8th day of September, 1862, shortly after the fight at Clear Creek, 
Missouri, where I had my horse shot under me, was promoted to fourth 
sergeant ; third sergeant, January 1st, 1863 ; second sergeant, April 
3d, 1865. Was mustered out at Austin, Texas, February 15th. 1866. 
After the war returned to the State of Ohio, where I have ever since 
resided. Of late years I have followed mo.stly the ]irofession of run- 
ning steam engines. My post office address is Casstown, Miami county. 
Ohio. There were two children born to us. The oldest, a girl, was 
boi-n in Ohio, and was about two years old when we moved to Iowa. 
Our boy was born in Henry county. Iowa, after I had enlisted as a sol- 
dier. When I was home on re-enlistment furlough, he took sick and 
died. My daughter lives in Cass county, Ohio, the wife of John Hance." 

CLEMENT M. BIRD— Company E. 
Was born October 9th, 1837, in Northumberland county, Pennsyl- 
vania. At the age of twelve left school and went to work in a rolling 
mill, in Dowville, Pennsylvania. At the age of seventeen years came 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 335 

to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, and there learned the plasterer's trade. At the 
breaking out of the rebellion he enlisted in C'ompany F, First Iowa 
Infantry, for three months, April 15th, 1861. Was discharged August 
20th, 1861, at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. Enlisted in Company E, 
First Iowa Cavalry, September 1st, 1861. Wounded March 19th, 1862. 
Veteraned January 1st, 1864. Final discharg'e. February 15th, 1866, 
at Austin, Texas, making an almost continued service of 1,741 days. 
Since the war he has followed the business of plastering and brick- 
laying. Was married September 4th, 1866 ; has raised a family of 
three girls and one boy, and his present home is at Afton, Union 
county, Iowa. 

LIEUTENANT CHARLES W. W. DOW— Company F. 

Lieutenant Charles W. W. Dow is a native of the State of Maine, and 
was born in the city of Augusta on the 17th day of May, 1838, being 
the third son of Wm. N. and Sarah Dow. His boyhood days were 
passed in Massachusetts, and he was educated in part at Boston, and at 
the Oliver Grammar School at Lawrence in that State. In 1854 we 
find him at Newport, Rhode Island, where he lived and learned the 
trade of an upholsterer. And again in 1856, at Iowa City, Johnson 
county, Iowa, whei-e he resided until 1859. In far off New Mexico we 
find him engaged in campaigning against the hostile Navajoes of New 
Mexico and Northern Arizona. Returning from his second campaign 
in February, 1861, after having all but lost his life by starvation — the 
party eating all their riding and pack animals, three of his comrades 
dying of starvation and three going crazy by the same cause, (his ad- 
ventures in the southwest would fill a good sized volume) — June found 
him at Iowa City, Iowa, having ridden his mustang pony from Lower 
New Mexico to Plattsmouth, Nebraska, all alone ; twice escaping the 
hostile Sioux, first by strategy, and once by the speed of his pony ; hav- 
ing accomplished a journey of over one thousand miles. 

Again, three days after his arrival home, we find him enlisted as a 
private in Company F, First Iowa Ca,valry, for three years unless 
sooner discharged ; being promoted to first sergeant of his company on 
September 1st, 1862. Commanded the first platoon at the now cele- 
brated moonlight charge at midnight on Newton's rebel regiment, at 
Jackson, Missouri, April 28th, 1863. Promoted to be Second Lieuten- 
ant July 18th, 1863. Severely wounded in the head by rifle ball, at 
Holley Bottom, Little Missouri river, Arkansas, on the 4th day of April, 
1884. Remained with his company and regiment after its re-muster as 
veterans, and promoted First Lieutenant February 7th, 1865. 



336 HISTOEY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

While on leave of absence (sick leave) was married, on April 30th. 
to Lucy E. North, of Iowa City, Johnson county, Iowa, a graduate of 
the normal department of the State University of Iowa. 

Returned to his regiment and served until the end of the war and dis- 
charge of the regiment, at Austin, Texas, the 28th day of February, 
1866 ; after which he engaged in farming at Pleasant Valley. Johnson 
county, Iowa. In 1872 took a Government homestead in Nobles county. 
Minnesota, where he is now engaged in farming and stock raising. 
Served over ten years as justice of the peace and town clerk ; also as 
deputy clerk of the district coui-t and deputy sheriff ; and in November. 
1888, was elected judge of the probate court for his county. He is now 
the father of twelve children, three boys and nine girls. 

The Lieutenant is a pensioner since 1874 for wounds received in ac- 
tion, and present post office address is at Rushmore, Nobles county, 
Minnesota. 

MAX KLEIN— Company F. 
Enlisted at the age of eighteen years in Company F, Fii'st Iowa Cav- 
alry, August 1st, 1861. Re-enlisted as veteran January 1st, 1864, for 
three years. Promoted corporal October 31st, 1864. Participated in the 
most of the engagements, raids, etc. . for which the regiment was noted. 
He was with his company when they charged Newton's rebel regiment, 
whilst in pursuit of Marmaduke, and in the celebrated • • moonlight 
charge.'" When the command reached Little Rock, Arkansas, the then 
Governor of that State was raising a Union cavalry regiment, and his 
officers unanimously recommended Mr. Klein for a commission, which 
was declined, he preferring to remain with his command. His First 
Lieutenant wrote a letter in which he said, ' • No better cavalry soldier 
ever mounted a horse ; always ready for duty, with no hospital record." 
He is a well known business man of Allegheny, Pennsylvania, and is a 
member of James M. Lytle Post, 128, G. A. R. The title of Major 
was bestowed upon him since the war. 

LIEUTENANT COLONEL J. D. THOMPSON— Company G. 

James Danforth Thompson, son of Captain Isaac K. and Emily D. 
Thompson, is a native of Fredonia, Chautauqua county. New York, and 
was born on the 19th day of September, 1832. His early life was 
passed on the farm of his father, attending the common school, and 
subsequently the academy in his native village. Like many young men 
having their own way to make in life, he engaged at the age of seven- 
teen in teaching during the winter months, to secure means to defray 
his expenses at the academy during the remainder of the year. At the 




Capt, JAMES □, THDMPSDN, 

COMPANY G. 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA (CAVALRY. 837 

ag-e of nineteen years he entered the law office of Hon. O. W. Johnson, 
in Fredonia, New York, where he continued until he was compelled by 
ill health to discontinue his studies, and in the fall of 1852 he visited 
Cincinnati, and subsequently spent the winter in Kentucky. In the 
summer of 1853 he engaged in civil engineering on I'ailroads in south- 
ern Ohio, and in the spring of 1854 for aw^hile on the Michigan South- 
ern railroad in northern Ohio. 

Having regained his health, he resigned his position as engineer and 
started for Iowa, arriving at Eldora, county seat of Hardin county, on 
the 10th day of June. A. D. 1854. when he at once engaged in practice 
of his chosen profession. In the fall of that year he was elected prose- 
cuting attorney of the county, and in April, 1857, as an independent 
democrat, was elected judge of that judicial district. 

In 1861, at the first intimation of war, he announced himself uncon- 
ditionally in support of the general Government, and as chairman of 
the democratic central committee united in a call for a public meeting 
to endorse its action, and was one of the most active at the special 
session of the State Legislatui'e, in May, 1861, to urge that body to 
authorize the Governor to tender the United States a regiment of cav- 
alry, armed and equipped at the expense of the members of the regi- 
ment. So soon as it was known that the Governor would be authoi'ized 
to offer the regiment he returned from DesMoines, and at once began 
enlisting men for a company, buying and furnishing a number of horses 
to those unable to buy. When the order came to go into rendezvous 
he marched his command across the country to Burlington, Iowa, at 
which place he was, on the 31st day of July, 1861. mustered into the 
army of the United States as Captain of Company G, First Regiment 
Iowa Cavalry Volunteers. Upon General Fremont refusing to order the 
regiment into service unless the men would sell their horses and equip- 
ments, he was ordered by Colonel Warren to St. Louis to secure a mod- 
ification of the order, which he was largely instrumental in accom- 
plishing. 

On his return Captain Thompson was sent to Davenport to induce 
Adjutant General Baker to order Captain Heath's and Captain An- 
keny's companies to join the First Regiment at Burlington. In this he 
succeeded, and Companies L and M completed the First Iowa Cavalry. 

Being absent from his regiment when ordered to St. Louis, he only 
joined it after his company had marched with General Fremont to 
Springfield, and was ordered to escort a supply train from Tipton to 



43 



338 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

Springfield, but upon reaching the Osage river was ordered back to 
Syracuse, and soon after joined his company. 

Was with General Pope in his march to cut off General Raines, and 
commanded his company at the battle of Milford, on the 19th day of 
December, 1861, and was present at the capture of Colonels Robinson 
and McGoffin and their command of 1,500 troops. The next day he 
escorted General Pope back to Sedalia. 

He commanded his company in the march into Howard county, 
which resulted in the defeat of Colonel Poindexter, at Silver Creek, 
January 8th, 1862. 

When Major Torrence was relieved of the command of the First 
Battalion, Captain Thompson was placed in command, and on the 22d 
day of February commanded the cavalry on the march toward the 
Missouri river. 

In April, 1862, he commanded the troops sent to defend Warrens- 
burg from Quantrell, and on the following day defeated Colonel Parker, 
captured him and fifteen or twenty of his command, and then returned 
to Sedalia. 

In May he was ordered to Lexington, and thence to Clinton. Mis- 
souri. He was then detailed to serve on military commission at Butler. 
Bates county, serving till the commission was ordered to Sedalia. in 
August. 1862. 

In October of that year he resigned (on Surgeon's certificate of disa- 
bility) from the First Iowa Cavalry. 

In 1863, having improved in health, was commissioned Major of the 
Eighth Iowa Cavalry, and was subsequently breveted Lieutenant Colo- 
nel for gallant and meritorious services. ' 

Commanded sub-district west of Nashville in 1863 and 1864. In 
February, 1864. was ordered to Iowa to escort recruits to their com- 
mands, along the railroad from Nashville, Tennessee, to Huntsville. 
Alabama. 

In March was detailed on military commission at Nashville. His 
health having again yielded to the effects of the hard service and expo- 
sure, he was sent to the Nashville hospital, and in the summer of 1864 
honorably discharged on Surgeon's certificate of permanent disability. 

Returning home, Colonel Thompson engaged in agriculture until 
1866. when he was induced to accept the nomination of the people's 
party for Congress and was defeated- 

In the spring of 1867 he was appointed and confirmed United States 
Pension Agent at DesMoines. 



mSTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 389 

In 1875 he left Iowa and has since made his home in California. 
For a time he practiced his profession in San Francisco, but of late 
years has been engaged in mining, railroading and real estate. His 
headquarters are rooms 23 and 24, 230 Montgomery street, San Fran- 
cisco. 

CAPTAIN A. W. HOSFORD— Company G. 

A. W. Hosford was born June 14th, 1839, in Lorain county, Ohio, 
where he resided until the spring of 1855, when, with a determination 
to do and dare for himself, he packed his grip and started for the far 
west, arriving at Dubuque, Iowa, March 17th of. that year. At this 
date no railway had penetrated the northwest as far as the Father of 
Waters, the terminus of the Illinois Central railroad then being Galena. 
Illinois. At this place he took stage for Dubuque, Iowa, a lively town 
of about eight thousand inhabitants. Having been brought up on a 
farm he sought employment as a farm hand ; failing to find immediate 
emi^loyment in this line, he worked in a brick yard for three months, 
when he engaged with a farmer, receiving a man's wages, twenty dol- 
lars per month, though but sixteen years of age. Here he remained, 
working at whatever he could find to do, until August, 1857. when he 
concluded that to fight succes'sfully the battle of life required a better 
education than he had yet received. So, gathering up his effects. 
which amounted to two hundred and fifty dollars, he returned to Ober- 
lin. Ohio, where his mother then lived — entering college at this place, 
pursuing special studies until the spring of 1859. when with a depleted 
treasury he returned to Dubuque. Iowa. Here he at once secured a po- 
sition as teacher in a public school near Reed's Chapel, where he had 
formerly worked. After teaching this school one term, he was ap- 
pointed teacher at Rockdale, near Dubuque, which position he held 
until the breaking out of the rebellion. 

The disaster to the Union arms at the battle of Bull Run removed 
all doubt from his mind as to his duty to the Government he had early 
been taught to love and reverence. So he immediately enrolled his 
name in the cavalry company then forming in Dubuque, which became 
Company G, First Iowa Cavalry. In this company he served till its 
final muster out, February 15th, 1866. He was appointed corporal Oc- 
tober 1st, 1861 ; promoted sergeant May 11th, 1863 ; re-enlisted Decem- 
ber 9th, 1863 ; commissioned Second Lieutenant, April 4th, 1864. and 
placed in command of detachment of Company G composed of non- 
veterans and recruits. This detachment he commanded until the re- 
turn of the veterans from their furlough and Missouri campaign, when 



340 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY, 

he was placed in command of the company. Was promoted Captain 
January 3d, 1865. Served as Provost Marshal on General Thompson's 
staff during the Texas campaign under General Custer. 

After his muster out he returned to Dubuque, married Miss Sidonia 
Nailer, settled down on a farm, followed this avocation till the spring of 
1874, when he sold out, and with his family visited Europe, where his 
youngest surviving child was born. Returning home a year later, he 
bought an interest in the Rockdale flouring mills, which with his part- 
ner he continued to operate until the autumn of 1884. The succeeding 
two years he improved and operated his farm at Manchester, Iowa. 

January 1st, 1887, he opened a real estate, loan and insurance office, 
where at this writing, September 5th, 1890, he may be found, at the 
southeast corner of Ma,in and Eighth streets, Dubuque, Iowa. He oc- 
cupies a pleasant house with his wife and three children, Amanda L.. 
Richard W. and Ida F., in the suburbs of Dubuque, Iowa. Here he 
expects to remain till he shall conquer his last enemy and be gathered 
to his fathers. 

LIEUTENANT E. A. KLINGENBERG— Cojipany G. 

Ernest A. Klingenberg was born in Hanover, Germany, on the 1 1th 
day of January. 1844. Being the seventh son he was named after the 
King of Hanover, thereby procuring the privilege of obtaining a mili- 
tary education by the government. Unfortunately the father met with 
an accidental death when Ernest was but three years old, and the mother 
died when he was but eleven years old. Being left an orphan at eleven, 
and his relatives in America, the guardian received instructions to send 
him over to them, which he did in September, 1855. Received private 
instructions for one year in St. Louis and Dubuque, after which he 
attended the public school until fourteen years of age, when he took 
employment as grocer's clerk ; and at the age of seventeen years and 
five months, on the 18th of June. 1861, enlisted in Company G. First Iowa 
Cavalry. Commissioned First Lieutenant in same company, January 
3d, 1865. and mustered out at Austin, Texas, Februai-y 15th, 1866. 

After returning home at Dubuque he took a course in Bayliss Com- 
mercial College, after which he started into the grocery business ; and 
in the summer of 1868 the Rev. James S. Rand, former Chaplain of the 
F'irst Iowa Cavalry, paid Dubuque a visit, and persuaded Ernest to go 
into the insurance business, in which business he is up to date, having 
removed to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1874. His family consists of a 
wife, son and daughter, the latter married in 1887. 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 341 

S. W. TRENCHARD— Company G. 
Was born in Steuben county. New York, on the 27th of June, 1836. 
When ten years old his parents moved to Wisconsin, and in 1852 he 
moved to Delaware county, Iowa, and lived on a farm until 1858, when 
he learned the carpenter's trade. Received a common school educa- 
tion, and when the war broke out, on the 13th day of June, 1861, he 
enlisted in Company G, First Iowa Cavalry, serving- three years and 
three months. Mustered out as corporal at Davenport, September 9th. 
1864. Has followed contracting and building ever since. 

BENJAMIN F. SKINNER— Company G. 
Ben. F. Skinner was born in Middleburg, Indiana, December 3d. 
1842. and lived there until he was eleven years old. The family then 
removed to Delaware county. Iowa. His father was a shoemaker by 
trade. After arriving in Iowa his father entered a large tract of land 
and went to farming. This did not suit the taste of the boy Ben. so he 
was apprenticed to the tinner's trade, at which he was at work when 
he enlisted as a private in Company G, First Iowa Cavalry, at Burling- 
ton, Iowa, August 15th, 1861. During his term of service was on duty 
at General Herron's headquarters for nine months. Returned to his 
company when the expedition to capture Little Rock was organized. 
Was sunstruck at Clarendon, Arkansas, and nearly lost his life. The 
Camden expedition nearly used him up, as he was sick nigh unto death 
until discharged at Davenport, Iowa, September 9th. 1864, as high 
private, and then he thanked God his soldier days were over. He is 
now a robust G. A. R. man. a tinner by trade, and lives at Manchester. 
Iowa ; and if any of old Company G pass his way, he invites them to 
be sure and call. 

J. W. KRAPFELL— Company G. 

The subject of this sketch was born on March 30th, 1842, in the 
kingdom of Bavaria, Germany, and is the youngest of a family of six 
children. In 1846 the family emigrated to America, arriving at St. 
Louis, Missouri, in the early spring of that year. In the same year 
they departed for Dubuque, Iowa, and in 1847 located on some Govern- 
ment land in Dubuque county. He first attended school at New Wine. 
going a distance of three miles on foot daily with an older brother. In 
1853 he returned to Dubuque and finished his studies in the jjublic 
schools of that city. At the commencement of the war he was a clerk 
in the general merchandising firm of O'Farrell, Patterson it Co.. of 
Dubuque. 



342 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

On June 13th, 1861, he with his friend Ed. J. Brown enlisted under 
Captain H. H. Heath in Company G, First Iowa Cavalry, as private, 
and served in company in that capacity until after the battle of Prairie 
Grove, when he was detailed by General Herron for service in the com- 
missary department. After the departure of General Herron farther 
south, and the breaking up of his division at Prairie Grove, he returned 
to his company and remained with it until after the capture of Little 
Rock, when he was detailed as clerk in the commissary department un- 
der Captain Arden R. Smith, Quartermaster of the Seventh Army 
('orps, at Little Rock, which position he held until the expiration of his 
term of enlistment. 

On September 9th. 1864, he was mustered out of the service at Dav- 
enport, Iowa, and returned to Dubuque, where in the fall of that year 
he entered the service of Messrs. Woods & Jackson, dry goods mer- 
chants, remaining with them until September 19th. 1867. He then 
took a position with the German Savings Bank of Dubuque, and re- 
mained with that institution until May, 1871. On May 21st, 1871, he 
located at Waterloo. Iowa, and took a position as bookkeeper in the 
National Savings Bank, and has ever since been connected with bank- 
ing institutions in that city. In 1876 he was elected assistant cashier 
of the First National Bank. In 1879 he was promoted to cashier, in 
which capacity he is now serving that organization. 

The ties of friendship existing before the war between Ed. J. Brown 
and the subject of this sketch were strengthened during their service to 
their country. During their entire service, with the exception of when 
either one was sick, they bunked together and slept under the same 
blankets. Both were on detached service at the same time under Gen- 
eral Herron and Captain Arden R. Smith. The meeting of such com- 
rades at the triennial i-eunions of the regiment is truly a source of great 
pleasure ; it revives in their memories and rekindles in their hearts the 
scenes around the camp-fires, and the joys and sorrows of those days 
which will ever remain green in their memories. 

EDWARD J. BROWN— Company G. 

Edward J. Brown was born in Wayne county, Michigan, May 10th, 
1842. Educated at the State Normal School, Ypsilanti. Came with his 
parents to Dubuque, Iowa, January, 1854, and there lived until the war 
broke out, when he enlisted, June 13th, 1861, under Lieutenant H. H. 
Heath, (afterwards Captain Company L,) Company G, First Iowa Cav- 
alry. After three years' and three months' active service, he was mus- 
tered out at Davenport, September 9th, 1864. After the war he en- 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 343 

gaged in the insurance business for several years, and is now located at 
Quincy, Illinois, where he has been eng-aged in the business of dealer 
in nursery stock for the last twelve years. 

THOMAS S. HELLER— Company G. 
Thomas S. Heller, Menomonie, Wisconsin, was born in Salona, 
Clinton county, Pennsylvania, in September, 1840. He went to Bur- 
lington in 1857, where he attended a commercial college. He went to 
Reed's Landing, Minnesota, the following year and kept the books of 
T. B. Wilson & Co., then a branch of the lumber firm of Knapp, Stout 
& Co., for about one year. He then became a student of Alleghany Col- 
lege, at Meadville, Pennsylvania, where he remained about one year. 
He came to Dunnville, then the county seat of Dunn county, in Wiscon- 
sin, in 1860, and kept the hotel known as the Painter House, and was 
deputy county treasurer that year, doing the business for his father, 
who was county treasurer. He went east, attended the first inaugura- 
tion of President Lincoln in 1861, and returned home with war fever, 
and desiring to join a cavalry regiment closed out his successful busi- 
ness and went to Burlington, Iowa, where he enlisted in the First Regi- 
ment Iowa Cavalry Volunteers, being mustered in with his regiment in 
July, 1861. He took violently ill in Fremont's march to Springfield, 
and was left with many other sick soldiers in a church on the Osage 
river, many of whom quickly died with the raging fever, and want of 
proper care. He, being fortunate in reaching the hospitals at Sedalia 
and St. Louis, finally recovered, and then rejoined his company in the 
field, where he served until in June, 1863, when he was detailed on 
special service by command of Major General Schofield, as clerk at the 
headquarters Department of the Missouri, at St. Louis, and to report to 
Major A. G. Brackett, Asst. Com. of Musters. He was mai-ried to 
Mary Helen Tillotson, of Terre Haute, Indiana, in May, 1864. and was 
at work in the office of the Provost Marshal General when ordered to 
be mustered out of service, July, 1864, his term of three years having 
expired. He came to Menomonie, Wisconsin, at the expiration of his 
term of service, and kept the Menomonie House for one year ; thence 
to (Chicago for a year or two. Has been a resident of Menomonie, Wis- 
consin, since that time. He was assessor in 1870. town clerk for four 
or five years, and elected mayor of Menomonie in 1887. He does a 
large fire insurance business, representing many of the best companies 
in this country and in England. He has six children — two sons and 
four daughters. One daughter is married ; his wife is dead. 



344 HISTOEY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

LIEUTENANT SAMUEL T. CRAIG— Company H. 

Samuel T. Craig was born March 22d, 1835, in Corydon, Harrison 
county, Indiana. His parents. Dr. Thomas and Mary E. Craig, emi- 
grated to Waveland, Montgomery county, Indiana, while he was a mere 
child, where he received a common school education and learned the 
carriage making trade with N. Glover. He emigrated with his parents 
to Albia, Monroe county, Iowa, in the spring of 1855, being in his 
twentieth year. He manufactured the first buggy made in Monroe 
county, Iowa. 

In the spring of 1858 he and his brother David traveled overland in 
an open buggy to St. Paul, Minnesota, there being no railroad west of 
the Mississippi river except a short line from Burlington to Mt. Pleas- 
ant, Iowa, and the city of Minneapolis was but a village. 

He was one of the unfortunate gold hunters during the Pike's Peak 
excitement in 1859-60. He returned home to Albia, Iowa, in the fall 
of 1860, with a view of returning to the gold fields early in the spring 
of 1861. The late war of the rebellion of '61, and the call of President 
Lincoln for volun.eers to defend the National flag, changed his base of 
action, and at the fall of Fort Sumter declared his intentions to defend 
the Government. 

He enlisted as private of Company H, First Iowa Cavalry Volunteers, 
June 13th, 1861. Was promoted after about two years' service to 
orderly sergeant, thence to Second Lieutenant, thence to First Lieuten- 
ants—all in same company and regiment. 

He served on staff of Colonel J. M. Glover, commanding Second 
Brigade Cavalry Division, for nearly a year. Was first in the city at 
the capture of Little Rock. Arkansas, and captured several prisoners. 
Served on staffs of General Cyrus Bussey, Carr and Davidson, at Little 
Rock, Arkansas, and on staffs of Generals E. D. Osband and B. S. Rob- 
erts, commanding cavah*y division at Memphis, Tennessee. Participated 
in nearly all the engagements with the enemy west of the Mississippi 
river, including Prairie Grove, Van Buren, Little Rock, Prairie DeAnne, 
Poison Springs, Camden, near Mark's Mill. Saline River, et al. Was 
mustered out of service while under the command of General Custer, at 
Austin, Texas, February 15th, 1866 — having served four years, eight 
months and three days. 

He cast his first vote for John C. Fremont, republican candidate for 
President ; also voted for Lincoln and Grant twice, Hayes, Garfield, 
Blaine and Harrison for same office. Was a consistent republican as 
well as a prohibitionist. Was elected county auditor on the republican 









Dr. Asa Mougan, Aest. Surgeon. 

Lieut. James M. Simeral, Co. L. 

Geo. R. 3I1LLER. Co. A. 



Lieut. A. L. Freeman, Co, K. 
Henry P. Shifper, Lieut. Co. B. 
Lieut. Samcei. T. Crak;, Co. H. 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 845 

ticket in 1869, '71, '73 and '75, four consecutive terms, serving eight 
years. He has since been engaged in tlie mercantile business at Albia. 
Iowa. Married May 17th, 1870. to Miss Helen B. Higgins, from Char- 
dron, Ohio, and had sons, Samuel T. and Charles H., and daughters. 
Helen and Laura, and are membei-s of the Christian Church. 

WALTER S. HANDLEY— Company H. 

Walter S. Handley was born in Kanawha county. West Virginia. 
May 17th. 1838. Was educated near Indianapolis. Indiana. Enlisted 
in Company H June 13th, 1861. at Albia. Monroe county, Iowa. Re- 
enlisted in same company January 4th. 1864, at Little Rock, Arkansas. 
Was mustered out of service at Austin, Texas. February 15th, 1866. 

His present occupation is contractor and builder, and present post 
office address is Oswego. Labette (!0unty, Wisconsin. 

F. P. BlIRKHALL— Company H. 

Was born 30th of September, 1834, in Washington coimty, Pennsyl- 
vania. Left that State in 1855. His occupation was blacksmithing 
and wagon-making up to 1861. when he joined Company H, First Iowa 
Cavalry, the company leaving Albia the ■29th day of July. 1861, to ren- 
dezvous at Burlington. Was sworn into the United States service about 
the 20th day of August, 1861, for three years or during the war. Then 
on the 1st day of January, 1864. he re-enlisted for three years more or 
during the war. Was mustered out and discharged at Austin, Texas, 
the 15th day of February, 1866. and returned home by land. Arrived 
home at Albia the 29th day of July. 1866. just five years to a day. and 
went to work at his trade. In the fall of 1868 was mari'ied to Nancy 
Duncan. Left Iowa in the spring of 1872 for Kansas, and made farm- 
ing his occui^ation with a reasonable degree of success. 

CAPTAIN R. L. FREEMAN— Company K. 
Robert L. Freeman was born in New Jersey in 1828. His family 
moved to Ohio a few years after his birth, but he did not remain there 
long. Mr. Freeman was possessed while young with a very roving dis- 
position, and while still quite a lad he served as cabin boy on a steamer 
between St. Louis and New Orleans. At the breaking out of the Mexi- 
can war he enlisted in the United States army and went to Mexico, 
where he was wounded by a bayonet and honorably discharged after 
five months' service. The Captain' still bears the scar of the bayonet 
on his right arm. and he suffered for nearly two years with the wound. 
In 1849 he came to California on a hunt for gold, working on the 

Feather river and at Mokelumne Hill. In 1851 he returned via the 
44 



346 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVAI.RY. 

Isthmus route to Clayton county, Iowa. Here he entered into business 
and followed it successfully for five years. During his residence in Iowa 
he was married to Mary L. Arnold, who has since shared his joys and 
sorrows and is still his loving helpmeet. After being in business for 
some time, Mr. Freeman began the study of law, passed an examination 
and was admitted to practice in 1859. At the breaking out of the war 
in 1861 he recruited Company K. First Iowa Cavalry, and served three 
years. After the war he was elected recorder of Clayton county. Iowa, 
and was re-elected to the same office for three more terms, serving in 
all four terms as county recorder. In 1877 he removed to California, 
taking up his residence in Oakland. About five years ago he came to 
Tulare county, where he has resided ever since. He became Secretary 
of the Alta Irrigation District ; and in 1889 was appointed Receiver of 
the United States Land Office at Visalia. 

CAPTAIN THOS. H. BARNES— Company K. 

Dr. Thos. H. Barnes was born at Coshocton, Ohio, in 1832, and was 
reared on a farm until he was twenty years old. when he began the 
study of medicine at Oakland, Ohio, and afterwards graduated at the 
Iowa State University. He settled at Volney, Iowa, about 1855, and 
moved to Waukon about 1858. He enlisted as a private in Company 
K. First Iowa Cavalry. April 15th, 1861. and resigned as Captain 
December 16th, 1864 He returned to Waukon, and again entered upon 
his profession, in which he was very successful. He spent a great deal 
of time and money in experimental farming, and built the first silo in 
Iowa, in 1881. 

During 1871-2-3 he was chairman of the board of supervisors of 
Allamakee county, and in 1880 was elected to the State Legislature as 
Representative. His health failed soon after, caused mainly by injuries 
to the eyes received in service of his country. 

Dr. Barnes was married in 1854 to Miss Julia A. Orr. who died in 
1859, leaving one daughter, Ida, now Mrs. L. A. Cvilbertson, of Ottum- 
wa. Iowa. In 1862 he married Miss Marion E. Ferris, of Waukon. who 
died November 1st. 1886, leaving three children. Callie, William and 
Florence. 

Dr. Barnes was a man of great liberality, a benefactor to the poor, 
and few men had more genuine friends in Allamakee county than he. 
He moved to his ranche near Lattin; Nebraska, in 1887, where he died 
June 2d, 1889, of genei^al debility, caused by the hardships and wounds 
received in the service of his country. He was buried between two 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 347 

large pine trees on a sunny hillside — a place of his own choosing — on 
his ranch, where his body sleeps waiting the last great roll call. 

CAPTAIN J. M. RUSSELL— Company K. 

James Mitchell Russell was boi-n July 12th. 1840. at Shelby, Ohio, 
and was educated in the common school. Moved with his parents to 
the State of Michigan in 1852. and in 1856 moved to Rossville. Alla- 
makee county, Iowa. Enlisted on the 13th day of June. 1861. in Com- 
pany K. First Iowa Cavalry. Served in the grades of corporal, ser- 
geant, first sergeant. Second Lieutenant and C'aptain. Discharged 
with the regiment. March 16th. 1866, at Davenport. Iowa. Residence. 
Connellsville, Fayette county. Pennsylvania. 

LIEUTENANT W. W. CARPENTER. 

Was born in St. Albans, Vermont, and came west with his parents 
to Wisconsin when it was a territoi*y, and when thirteen years old ran 
away from home and was with the Menomonee Indians two years. In 
the meantime his father moved to Iowa, and he came home in 1860. 
At the first news of Fort Sumter being fired upon, he enlisted for three 
months and began recruiting a company in connection with Dr. T. H. 
Barnes, of Waukon, Iowa, but owing to the rush of troops farther south 
he could not get in, and shortly after enlisted in Company K. First Iowa 
Cavalry, for three years or during the war, 

LIEUTENANT A. L. FREEMAN— Company K. 

Was born in New Jersey in 1836. Came to Ohio in 1842. Was ed- 
ucated in the high schools of Columbus. Ohio. Have lived in Indiana, 
in Illinois, in Wisconsin, in Minnesota, in Iowa, in Missouri, in Kansas, 
and now in Texas, J^nlisted in 1861 in First Iowa Cavalry, at McGi'egor, 
Iowa, Has been a merchant, farmer, banker and stockman, and is 
now holding stock and in the mercantile business in the Pan Handle of 
Texas. 

JOHN FITZSIMMONS— Company K. 
("^ame to this country in 1850, from the county of Down, Ireland, 
and lived in Jones county till 1861, when he enlisted in Company K. 
and was mustered in with the company at Burlington, and served with 
the regiment until 1864. Was mustered out at Davenport. September 
9th. 1864. Rank, sergeant. 

LIEUTENANT J. M. SIMERAL— (%)mpany L. 
Was born Mar(;h Tith. 1822, in Smithfield, (a Quaker community, ) 
Jefferson county, Ohio. Was educated at Franklin College. New Ath- 



348 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

ens, Ohio. Was deputy auditor and auditor of his native county over 
five years. Was married to Miss M. Wood, June 22d, 1852 — all of 
Steubenville. Jefferson county, Ohio. Emigrated to Dubuque, Iowa. 
Novembei'. 1854. Is engaged in the real estate business at Omaha. 

H. J. LEONARD— Company L. 

H. J. Leonard was born at Whitesborough, New York, November 
26th, 1836. In 1838 he removed with his father and the rest of the 
family to Roscoe, Illinois, and in 1845 they settled in Beloit, Wisconsin. 
July 1st. 1861. at Dubuque, Iowa, he enlisted under Captain H. H. 
Heath. Company L. First Iowa Cavalry. Was mustered into the Uni- 
ted States service August 18th, 1861, and remained in the service until 
the regiment was mustered out, which was during the year 1866. He 
then returned to Beloit, Wisconsin, and embarked in the manufacture 
of gloves and mittens, and has continued in the business up to the 
present time — at present under the firm name of H. J. Leonard Manu- 
facturing Company. 

CHARLES A. CHASE— Company L. 
Was born in Gainesville, Wyoming county. State of New York, on 
the 10th day of March. 1837. •■ At the age of twelve years I was 
thrown on my own resoui-ces. and worked by the month summers, did 
chores for my board winters, and went to school in same county I was 
born in. My education was limited. At the age of eighteen I had ac- 
cumulated enough wealth to go west and grow up with the country. 
Came by boat to Chicago ; drove a team from Chicago in the fall of 
1855 to Black Rock Falls, Wisconsin : worked in the pineries that win- 
ter, and in the spring of 1S5(). with my clothes tied up in a cotton 
handkerchief. I took it afoot nearly five hundred miles to Anamosa. 
Iowa. There I ran across Wm. T. Shaw, afterward Colonel of the 
Fourteenth Iowa Infantry Volunteers, bought ninety acres of land from 
him, and went to work for him by the month. Worked for him until I 
was married, and after I was married for nearly one year, when the 
war broke out and he went to war. By this time I had got my land 
partly broken up and impi-oved. The next spring built a small house 
on it. and my wife, self and small child, a boy not a year old, moved 
into our new home. That was in the spring of 1862. In August. 1862. 
Lincoln called for 300, 000 more men. I took a train and went to Du- 
buque and enlisted in Company L. First Regiment Iowa Cavalry Volun- 
teers, for three years oi- during the war ; got a three days furlough, 
went home, and in three days bid my young weeping wife with babe in 
her arms good-bye. and started for the front. Was not long in getting 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 349 

into battle at Prairie Grove, where we met with a warm reception. 1 
helped to pull out a mountain howitzer there that was between the two 
armies without receiving a scratch, but received two bullets in my 
clothes at the time. I re-enlisted on the 4th day of January, 1864, and 
was mustered out the 16th day of February. 1866. at Austin, Texas. 
Got home about the 25th day of March, 1866. In a short time went to 
Omaha, Nebraska ; took a tie contract on the Union Pacific railroad : 
finished that ; went to Aurora. Illinois ; engaged in the milling business 
for two years ; moved back to Anamosa, Iowa ; went to farming ; farmed 
for a few years ; sold out my farm, bought a drove of cattle, and drove 
them to Laramie City, Wyoming Territory ; was two months on the 
way. This was in the year 1874. Camped out with my family all the 
way — standing guard half the night from Central City, Nebraska, until 
I reached Cheyenne. Wyoming Territory. At Cheyenne I received the 
news of General Custei''s death by the hands of the Sioux Indians. I 
did not shed many tears over his downfall, as I had suffered more hard- 
ships in six months under him than I did from the time I enlisted until 
the war closed in the spring of 1865 — all this, too, after the war had 
closed and it was not necessary to inflict such punishments on the old 
soldiers who had fought so long and hard to save the Union. I can for- 
give but never can forget him. I engaged in the cattle business until 
the year of 1881 : was very successful at that. Sold out in 1881 ; went 
to Rochester, New York ; engaged in the milling business there ; was 
successful at that, until my health failed me in 1886, and I had to close 
up my business there. Went to Waukesha, Wisconsin, and by using 
the water from those mineral springs regained my health, and to-day 
finds me back at Laramie City. Wyoming, in the wholesale and retail 
grocery business, after an absence of seven years. During all this time 
my wife has stood by me, and if I am entitled to any credit, to her be- 
longs more than half. We are both broken down in health, but hope 
we have enough of this world's goods to last us the few remaining years 
we have to spend here. I have nothing to regret in my life, only the 
six months' service under General Custer. The balance of my services 
while in the army I always tried to do my duty and did it cheerfully 
and without a murmur, and have always been glad that I was one that 
helped to save my country. I always found a true and good friend in 
('olonel Wm. T. Shaw ; may he live to a good old age. I have nothing 
to say against any of ovii' officers or men ; I have a good will for all — 
don't know that I have an enemy either among officers or men. I think 
they all ti-ied to do their duty as men to the best of their ability. It 



350 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 



was a hard struggle and a long- struggle, but thank God our country 
was saved.'" 

HERBERT L. MILLS— Company L. 
Sergeant Mills was born in Kalamazoo county, Michigan, July 18th. 
1840. At the age of fourteen years he moved with his parents to Bu- 
chanan county, Iowa, spending the time summers breaking prairie and 
working on the farm, and attending school winters, until twenty years 
of age, when he went to Western College in Linn county, and decided 
to persevere and get a college education. But when the call came for 
volunteers in 1861 he gave up all and went to his country's rescue. Of 
his faithful service, those who were with him can testify. While his 
regiment was after Price during his raid in Missouri he contracted the 
rheumatism, and was confined about three months with it in the hospi- 
tal at Jefferson City. Missouri, during the winter of 1884. While in the 
service of his country his parents had removed to Michigan, and after 
his discharge he returned to them. His desire for a better education 
remained, and he attended school at Olivet College during the winter of 
1866-67. Here he became acquainted with Elvira Tabor, whom he 
married, and together they moved to Harrison county, Iowa, where 
they made for themselves a home out of the unbroken prairie. But the 
rheumatism oft returned until it refused to lessen its grip, and he be- 
came a constant sufferer and unable to walk without a cane or crutch. 
Six bright children were given him, and his first great grief came in 
the death of his first born, a boy of nine years, who was killed by the 
kick of a horse. Three children were buried there, when with failing 
health he again returned to Olivet, Michigan, with his family, where 
he still resides. He is thus enabled to give his remaining children, two 
young ladies and a young lad named Herbert L.. the educational privi- 
leges he so much desired for himself. Helplessness has slowly crept 
upon him, until he is now perfectly helpless, unable to move hand or 
foot. Has not walked for nine years or used a hand for one year. But 
the same brave, patient, cheerful spirit is his yet which he had in the 
army, and he can say, "God's will be done.'' He is cared for by his 
loving, faithful wife all these years, assisted by loving children and an 
aged mother. He receives a pension which supports him. 

JOAB SOMERS— Company L. 

Was born in Gloucester county. New Jersey, on May 4th, 1830. In 

1835 his parents moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1837 

they migrated to the State of Ohio, near the town of Springborough, 

Warren county. There he was taught farming until 1845. Then they 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 351 

moved to Jay county, Indiana, where he learned the carpenter's trade, 
which he followed for some time, but made farming his principal busi- 
ness until 1861, when he went to Iowa on business, and worked at Delhi 
in a nursery for Judge Doolittle part of the summer, and part of the 
summer for Charles Fleming, until after the great Bull Run battle. 
Then, on the 28th day of August, 1861, he enlisted at Dubuque in the 
First Iowa Cavalry, under Colonel Fitz Henry Warren, and remained 
in the regiment until the 15th day of February, 1866, and then resumed 
farming until the last few years when he got past work. 

LEWIS E. DEAN— Company M. 
Lewis E. Dean, born at Granger. Medina county, Ohio. September 
6th, 1844. Printer by trade. Enlisted in August. 1861. Married De- 
cember 5th. 1874, to Buzzelle D. Dinsmore. Has two live boy^. Charles 
D. and Daniel Abraham. Was Grand Reporter of the Grand Lodge 
Knights of Honor from 1879 to 1889 ; likewise Grand Secretary of the 
Grand Lodge Knights and Ladies of Honor from its organization. Au- 
gust 20th, 1879, up to 1889. Was local editor of Lyons Weekly Mirror 
for a period of seven or eight years, pi-evious to which he had worked 
at the case in same institution as boy and man. Was likewise city clerk 
of Lyons, Iowa, for a term of four yeai-s. Had been in rapidly failing 
health for some ten years, which finally culminated with a stroke of 
paralysis on the 19th of Octobei". 1888, since which time he has been 
confined to bed. 

BENTON D. B I TNER— Forty-sixth Pennsylvania. 
The "boys" will have a warm place in their hearts for him. Many 
times he has carried your old Surgeon in his arms, as tenderly as a 
mother her babe. He once saved the Doctor from a horrible death. 
The office lamp exploded, (he had no wheel-chair at that time, ) and he 
was alone and unable to move. Ben saw the blaze through the window 
and came to his assistance. Ben led Billy in the procession that fol- 
lowed his master to his last home. 

BILLY'S PORTRAIT. 

One day recently Mr. Fields took an excellent portrait of Billy, the 
late Dr. Chas. H. Lothrop's old war horse. It is nearly a perfect pi(;ture, 
and as the old horse pokes his nose affectionately toward Mr. Ben Bitner. 
who holds his bridle rein, it seems as if both would step from the pic- 
ture and walk away. 

Old Billy came into the possession of Dr. Lothrop in 1865. when the 
animal was five years old. He is now thirty and still lively. He was 



352 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 



the Doctor's sixth horse. He is a cross between the blooded Texan 
horses and the mustangs, was originally a racer, and many of the boys 
of the First Towa will recollect how Billy did up " Company E's horse" 
in a square race. 

Billy was purchased in 18C5 for a sum in gold equivalent to five 
thousand dollars in Confederate scrip. He is a horse possessed of a 
wonderful memory, and never forgets his friends. The animal was 
never shod but once, and then they were obliged to take the shoes off, 
as he had not been accustomed to them. 



CAPTAIN W. E. LEFFINGWELL— Company B. 
(In the absence of any direct sketch of Captain LeffingwelFs life, 
extracts from the action taken by the Chicago bar and a eulogy later 
delivered before the Supreme Court of Illinois, and a portion of the 
tribute rendered him before ths Supreme Court of Iowa by one of his 
nearest friends, are presented below. And these pages, it should be 
further explained, are printed at the close of the biographical notices 
because the copy was received too late for insertion according to com- 
pany and rank.) 

On September 3d, 1884, Hon. William Barge, who was appointed by 
Judge Dickey, the chairman of the meeting of the Chicago bar, to pre- 
sent the resolutions passed at that meeting relating to the death of 
Judge Leffingwell to the Supreme Court, in performing that duty said : 

' ' If your Honors please — I have been directed to present the fol- 
lowing memorial a,nd resolutions, adopted at a meeting of the Chicago 
bar, and ask that they be made a part of the records of this Court : 

' ' ' William P^dward Leffingwell, a member of the Chicago bar for 
the last ten years, has been removed by death from our midst. In his 
day he was one of the ablest and most eminent lawyers of the Western 
States. He went into Iowa at the age of seventeen years, when Iowa 
was a Territory. At an early age he became the foremost lawyer of 
his State. Among the public positions held by him were those of Pres- 
idential Elector, Judge of the District Court of the district in which 
he lived, and President of the Senate of the State, and in the late 
war he commanded a company of Iowa volunteers. As a lawyer he 
was well known not only through Iowa but Illinois also, and was one 
of the most eloquent advocates and successful counsellors of his day. 
He was a lawyer of learning in his profession, distinguished also for a 
high degree of scholarly attainments, and was respected by the courts, 
honored by the members of the profession, and loved by his clients and 




I 

I 



Capt, WM, E, LEFFIN&WELL. 



COMPANY B. 



HI8TORY OF FIRST IOWA OAVALKY. 353 

friends. He was a man of great kindness of heart, {i^reat nobility of na- 
ture, and his inborn honesty, everywhere exhibited, gave him a 
character for integrity in and out of his profession for which he will 
long be remembered.' * * * 

■Judge Leffingwell was born in New London, Connecticut, on the 
9th day of October, 1822. His educational advantages were extremely 
poor. He never attended school after he was twelve years old. but his 
vigorons mind, aided by an unquenchable thirst for useful knowledge, 
surmounted all obstacles, and he soon became a scholar and a cultured 
gentleman. At the age of seventeen he came west, and selecting the 
Territory of Iowa as the place of his future home, he became a student 
in the law office of Judge Hastings, in Muscatine, and after pursuing the 
required course of study was admitted to the bar. before that Territory 
became a State. Entering at once upon the practice of the law. he 
soon achieved the highest position in his profession, and constantly 
maintained it to the day of his death. His fame as a lawyer was not 
confined to his own State, but extended throughout the entire north- 
west. No ordinary man could have risen to this elevation, and no 
great man without incessant labor gained such honorable distinction at 
a bar containing upon its rolls such names as Hastings. Dillon. Knox. 
Manning. Arrington and Wallace. 

■ • His person was tall, well formed and erect, and his presence ma- 
jestic ; his voice silver-toned and melodious, and his manner of present- 
ing a case clear, logical and eloquent. He was an orator, and as an 
advocate had few equals and no superiors. 

• • When his country was in danger, near the commencement of the 
late war, he offered his life in her defense, and rendered valuable ser- 
vices on the fields of battle while in command of a company of Iowa 
cavalry, which he had been largely instrumental in recruiting for that 
service. 

■ But he is gone. His familiar face, and kind voice, and generout* 
hand, we will see, and hear, and clasp no more forever. Stricken down 
in the street in Chicago several years since, by paralysis, from which 
he never fully recovered, and receiving a second and third attack of the 
same disease last spring, he died on the l;3th of August. 18S4. in Lyons. 
Iowa, surrounded by his wife and children, whose loving hands did all 
that earthly hands could do to ameliorate his sufferings and wipe the 
death-damp from his aching brow. His warfare of life is ended : his 
last cause tried ; and he appears for judgment in the court from which 
there is no appeal, and in which there is no error. And I can but now 

45 



354 HISTORY OF P'IRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

say for myself and his many sorrowing friends — just judg'e. great law- 
yer, and true patriot, hail and farewell ! " 

Hon. L. A. Ellis, of Lyons, represented the Clinton county bar-, the 
county of Judge Leffingweirs residence, before the Supreme ('ourt of 
Iowa, and from his eulogy the following is quoted : 

• • May it please your Honors — I had an extended and intimate 
acquaintance with the Hon. Wm. E. Leffingwell. as a townsman and 
neighbor. When I came to the bar and became a resident of this State, 
he was in the meridian of his life and fame. He had already partici- 
pated in the legislation of the State : had presided on the District bench 
of the Seventh Judicial District, and had won his way to a first place 
as an advocate and jurist, among those who were qualified to adorn any 
bar in the country. 

■ As a friend he was generous and magnanimous, and no sacrifice 

was too great for those in disti'ess who appealed to him for help. Like 

the great cardinal, he might be 

■' ' Lofty and sour to them that loved him not. 

But to those men who sought him, sweet as summer." 

• • He may have had his failings and enemies — who of us has not ? — 
but now that he is gone, even the tongue of criticism, that might aim 
its arrows at the living, will respect the maxim — De Mortuis nil nisi 
bonum. 

•'Take him all in all. as he went in and out before us. it is not ex- 
travagant eulogy to say he seemed 

'■ ' Due upon wliom every god had set his seal 
To give assurance of a man." 
•■Standing here in this Court to-day. where he has so often stood, 
in the presence of your Honors, who have so often granted him audi- 
ence as an oracle in the temple of justice, we observe no imperfections, 
but rather treasure his memory as a star in our profession of the first 
magnitude, and regret that it has so soon gone below the horizon to re- 
appear no more to the gaze of men. 

■ • His career was cut short by a stroke of that disease which so fre- 
quently assails men subject to great mental strain and exhaustion. 

• • His work is done, and nobly done ; and such a life is more than 

the mere dull round of many years. 

" ' We live in deeds not years, in thought not breath. 
In feelings not in figures on the dial. 
We should count time by heart-throbs ; he most lives 
Who thinks most, feels the noblest, acts the best." 

• ■ May we not hope, as Judge Leffingwell did. that • the grave is not 



HISTORY OF PIKST IOWA CAVALKT. 355 

the ffoal.' and that the soul, so capable of is,a-aspinf,^ intaagible thin^'-s. 
and living in the world of thought while cumbered with the tenement 
of clay, is as imperishable as its Author : and that in more congenial 
realms, reunited, we will realize that complete development, happiness. 
and fruition, which, while they ever haunt our aspirations, always 
elude our grasp in this world. " 



REMINISCENCES. 



thp: vidette post. 

BY .1. R. MARTIN, COMPANY E. 

Comrades, we greet you with outstretched hand. 
And welcome you loyally to our band. 
We have met to renew the ties that bind 
Comrade to comrade, and here to find 

Fresh memories of the long ago : 
And as we recall those days of strife 
That made up the sum of our army life. 
Let us not forget that the • ' Angel of Peace "" 
Has issued the edict. • ■ Let anger cease. 

And hail as a friend your old-time foe." 

As 1 sit and muse on those days of strife. 
What pictiires arise of our army life : 
How each thrilling episode comes to mind. 
And I turn from the dream with a sigh to find 

We" re but fighting our battles over again : 
But ril try to paint, in my feeble way. 
Some of the scenes when •• Blue met Gray." 
And the whole world stared at the bloody fray. 
As the war clouds lowered in the light of day, 

And the night wind sobbed over mangled men. 

I shall not attempt to paint the strife. 
Or the awful carnage that withered life : 
Too dark is the picture, you know it well. 
How your heart was wrung when your comrades fell. 
And you wept to see them die : 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 367 

But we'll talk of the hig-h old times in camp. 
And the capers we cut when out on a tramp. 
And think with a smile how we used to buck 
At the little game that we called " chuck luck."" 
Though the game sometimes made us cry. 

There were lonesome hours on the •• picket post/" 
When we watched with the stars our sleeping host. 
And the minutes seemed hours as we strained our eyes 
That our comrades might suffer no surprise 

Throug'h any neglect of ours ; 
And the very silence seemed fraught with sound, 
And the fall of a twig caused our hearts to bound. 
And we sti*ained our eyes to pierce the gloom 
That seemed close as the walls of a darkened room. 

As wearily dragged the hours. 
You remember it. comrades, a gruesome place. 
Where the darkness seemed only to hide the face 
Of a skulking foe, and you almost thought 
You could hear the • ' click " that precedes a shot. 

And you fairly held your breath ; 
And it seemed to you that the beat of your heart 
Would be heard by the enemy in the dark. 
And serve as a guide to mark the spot 
That he might more surely speed the shot 

That might lay you cold in death. 

Yes, we've been there, comrades, and know that while 
We were not afraid (? ), yet a peaceful smile 
Would break through the camp-fire smoke on our faces. 
And we never objected to yielding our places 

To the sentinels who came to relieve us : 
And heaving a sign of perfect content. 
We would shoulder our carbines and seek our tent. 
(A -dog tent" generally,) there to repose, 
And dreaming of loved ones forget the woes 

Of our lot, if the foe would let us. 
You may talk of the battle field, and tell 
Of the terrible havoc that bullet and shell 
Made in our ranks — but then, you know. 
That was "give and take." and we had the foe 

In front, and our comrades around : 



358 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVAL,RY. 

But that lonely vigil, with no one near, 
That long two hours, when eye and ear 
Were strained to the utmost to see and hear, 
And even the trees and bushes appear 

Like an enemy sprung from the ground — 
Will try the nerve of the bravest man 
That ever cooked meat in a frying-pan. 
Or boiled his coffee in an old tin can 
That once held fruit, but now, second-hand, 

Serves him as a coffee-pot. 
Oh, that can cost money, for the sutler, well — 
Look at his features, they will tell 
That he knew how to buy, and how to sell. 
But still even he sometimes caught 

When things got too awfully hot. 

But then, you know, on the other hand, 

That we often feasted on Southern ham. 

And "slapjacks'" that would kill any other man 

Than one who was fighting for "Uncle Sam" 

And wearing the Federal Blue."' 
And the chickens (? ), oh hush ! — why, they seemed to know 
That when we appeared they had no moi-e show 
Than a "Methodist quarterly meeting'' would give 
To aught but the oldest and toughest to live. 

And they were not sure to get through. 
Ah well ! one thing's certain — we had our fun. 
And when the rebs wouldn't, why we could run ; 
Yes, and get over ground at a rattling rate. 
That we couldn't match now were our lives at stake, 

For we're a quarter of a century older. 
But sometimes, while limping along with my cane. 
I forget, till some confounded rheumatic pain 
Comes on with its miserably horrid clutch. 
And reminds me that now is my day for the crutch 

Instead of the sword of a soldier-^ 

And that I have grown old — Why, my heart is as young 
As it was in the days when we lustily sung 
'Round our camp-fires our old army songs. 
Or studied up plans which should redress the wrongs 
And save the old flag from defeat. 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVAI.RY. 859 

But that day has gone by — yet here let me say 
How I prize its dear memory; ah yes, and they. 
My old comrades, who in those thrilling hours 
So manfully breasted the heat and the showers, 
Till the foe was forced to retreat. 

Then, comrades, though scattered, and many, alas. 

Have stood their last "picket." received their last --pass'" — 

A pass which I trust and believe leads above. 

Where the only countersign asked for is Love, 

And each one is hailed as a friend — 
Let us close up our ranks as our comrades fall out. 
And keep unbroken line, till at length with a shout 
We receive the "last order,'" the battle is won. 
Your marchings are over, the warfare is done. 

And glory and peace is the end. 
Shawneetown. September 17th. 1886. 

A FLOCK OF GEESE AND A HORNET'S NEST. 

BY CAPTAIN H. S. HEBEKLING, COMPANY B. 

Sergeant H. J. Leonard, of Company L, informed me that on a cer- 
tain occasion, while on a scout, just after having gone into camp about 
dark, he threw a club at a flock of geese and struck Colonel Dan Ander- 
son on the calf of the leg. Query : What was Colonel Anderson do- 
ing in such close proximity to the geese ? 

( )ne i)leasant morning in the fall of the year, after the command had 
been marching some thirty hours, we were halted in the woods some 
miles out on our return to camp, obliqued to right and left of road, and 
dismounted to allow men and horses to rest. While the men lay in 
groups talking, and the poor jaded horses nipping the leaves here and 
there, and the boys talked of the hard riding and the jaded condition of 
the horses, private Fred Miller's horse going rather farther into the 
woods than the rest, was observed by Fred to be peculiarly lively, when 
he remarked. 'See Joe. boys, he feels tam goot, " and thinking Joe 
might be getting too far away went after him, and in doing so ran slap 
dab over a hornet's nest. Taking off his old hat. striking and jumping 
furiously, he returned in good order, shouting, • ■ Vassups ! boys I vas- 
sup I vassups ! " 

MAJOR TOM BEREMAN'S EXPERIENCE. 

BY J. R. MARTIN. COMPANY E. 

Ah ! that last trip to the Saline. Do I not remember it ? Myself 



360 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

and Sergeant Wildasin were together, and that one awful night were 
more fortunate than many of the boys, as we had selected a knoll where 
an old pine had fallen, crushing an ash in its fall. We gathered the 
top and splinters of the ash together and made a rousing fire, built our 
bed high with pine boughs and young pines, and were for that time 
comfortable. Some time in the night I was awakened, and found Majoi' 
Tom Bereman standing out in the rain, warming one side into steam 
while the other was running water. I asked him what was the matter. 
Well, it would be hardly fair to report the •emphatic''' reply he gave 
me, but his tent had gone down on him and he was nearly drowned be- 
fore he could get out. He said we had the only tire in the command, 
and he had waded sometimes clear up to his — ankles to get to it. I told 
him to get in out of the wet, we could make room, and he did, hanging 
his dripping coat on a convenient limb of one of our crotched supports 
aot cut too close ; and as our tent was our two rubber blankets spliced 
and set up shedwise, with the opening to the fire, you may be sure it 
was dry and warm inside. The Major dropped off to sleep, breathing 
anathemas against Arkansas. In the morning I woke him when break- 
fast was ready, to what ? •• Hard-tack and S. B. ?" Not a bit of it, but 
to all the southern cured ham and good flour "flapjacks" he could eat ; 
as good as any hungry man would ask for. He was not the officer that 
morning to ask how I came by such feed. If he had. I should have 
suggested that it rained down. I was told by some one who overheard 
him, that he said to some of the other disconsolate officers that he had 
eaten the best breakfast that morning that he had ever eaten in his life, 
describing it to them. What ? Ham and pancakes and coffee ! Where 
could soldiers get under present orders such a meal as that ? • • Do you 
suppose I was d — d fool enough to ask them?" replied Bereman : •• 1 
was too glad to get some." 

I knew where it came from, and had an adventure in getting safe in 
with it — or rather them, for I had five fine hams and all the flour I 
could put in a pillow case — and was arrested too by the First Missouri 
Cavalry, but dodged out of their hands at a convenient cow path, 
(there was always a fellow feeling in the ranks, especially when one 
had a ham to spare, ) and dashed through the woods until I was ahead 
of that obstruction and safe. I will say in justice to myself, nothing 
but something to eat did 1 ever take ; and once at the muzzle of my re- 
volver I compelled a brute of the Illinois cavalry to restore to a young- 
lady a gold pencil case he had taken from her. Yet I never went hun- 
gry, and only subsisted on hard tack and S. B. (summum bonum) when 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 361 

I was confined to camp so closely that I could not get out — and that was 
not often. Some of our adventures were ridiculous enough, the Lord 
knows, and some had a sharp spice of danger. But we always got our 
meat. 

TOO MUCH FOR THE GENERAL. 

While we were returning from our second Camden (Arkansas) expe- 
dition, under General Carr, in February, 1865, and it rained twenty- 
eight out of the thirty days from the time we left Little Rock until we 
camped at Pine Bluffs, the country flooded and the roads almost impass- 
ible, with only half rations to the boys, there was naturally much 
suffering, and of eoui-se a great deal of grumbling indulged in. I re- 
member one day, as we were marching along and the rain was if possi- 
ble a little heavier and colder than usual, that (ieorge Hill, the tallest 
and one of the best soldiers in our company (E), was relieving his 
feelings by calling down all the anathemas known to a soldier's vocab- 
ulary (and it is unabridged) on the weather, the country, and every- 
thing pertaining to army life, when General Carr, who was riding by, 
overhearing him. checked his horse and began to rebuke him, saying, 
•• No good soldier would be guilty of such language,'' and he wanted to 
hear no more of it. •• Well, General,'' said Hill, " I don't want to brag 
on myself, '-but when there is a muss on hand I guess the boys will 
tell you I am generally there. But I want to tell you one thing : If I 
ever live to get home, and have the luck to get married, and I should 
have children, when I sit down by my fireside and tell them about this 
trip, if they don't cry Fll whale hell out of them ! " It is needless to 
say that the General rode on, followed by shouts of laughter from the 
■ ■ boys." 

THE EXPERIENCE OF A RAW RECRUIT. 

Of course all of the boys remember •■ Camp Sorghum, "" at Little 
Kock, just below town. That is where I with seven other -'raw re- 
cruits" first found the grand old regiment for which we enlisted, but 
had been held awhile at Camp McClellan, Davenport, to guard a lot of 
.Si(jux Indians who had been engaged in the Minnesota massacres. 

Well, we got to camp wet, cold and hungry, for we had ridden from 
Duvall's Bluffs on a flat car, through a pelting cold rain, over that 
dismal Brownsville prairie ; crossed the pontooii bridge and camp just 
as it was growing dark ; and to our unaccustomed eyes, what a dismal 
looking place. The water was all over the ground, and in the gather- 
ing gloom the lines of '-dog tents" presented much the appearance of 

a muskrat village out in one of those northwest Iowa marshes, only that 
46 



H62 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

there was more regularity in their distribution. But we received a 
hearty welcome, albeit not a little mixed with the badinage which, for 
some reason beyond my ken. always prompts the "old soldier'' to pour 
out on the head of every recruit, until he has been with them under 
•'fire." their doubts as to his standing the test. 

That was early in November. 1863, and our winter quarters were not 
yet erected. I remember I learned to use a froe and rive out cypress 
clapboards before I learned to forage, though the last seemed to come 
more natural. What a time we had there that fall luitil the last of No- 
vember ! It was rain, rain, rain ; and mud deep enough to swamp an 
alligator ; and it was a matter to boast of to succeed in crawling into 
our dog tents without getting knees and hands plastered with southern 
soil, or finding our blankets and other things swimming around like 
tadpoles in a mud puddle. However, we had some beautiful weather 
afterward, during which we got up our quarters and long sheds for our 
horses : and none too soon either, for the holidays of '63 and '64 were 
terrible for that climate, and it held till the Arkansas river was frozen 
over below the pontoon bridge — something that the oldest inhabitants 
(and they generally remember something to cap the climax) confessed 
they had never seen before, and suggested that the d — d Yankees had 
brought their climate along with them. 

Among the other cavalry regiments stationed at Little Rock that 
winter. I have a lively recollection of the Fourth Arkansa.s (Union), the 
worst mixed up lot I ever saw. though there were some good men and 
officers among them — notably of the last Major Vincent, who was a 
thorough gentleman, a good officer, and a well read man. Still it oc- 
curred somehow that our horses not having the stay at home brand of 
U. S. on them got into a singular- habit of straying off, and by some 
strange circumstance we usually found that they had strayed into the 
camp of the Fourth Ai'kanHa,s. Some of our boys being of a susi^icious 
nature, and outspoken enough to give vent to it. made some remarks 
which caused for a time a coolness so to speak between the two regi- 
ments. But they were not of a revengeful disposition, as was fully 
proven by the reply of one of their sergeants, who, when passing our 
camp with some of his men, and a number of our boys whose horses 
had strayed (?) off began jeering them, stopped, and in a pathetic tone 
remarked. --You'uns don't appear to think much of we'uns. but we'uns 
think you'uns are right peart." That settled it — like the boy at the 
frolic we had no more to say. though a very audible smile went round. 
But their Colonel — wasn't he -a daisy?" I can see him now in my 



HISTORY OF VTRST IOWA CAVALKY. 303 

mind's eye — a great, tall, lank, lantern. jawed specimen of a genuine 
■ Arkansaw rosin scraper,'" who couldn't answer a question to save his 
life without first asking, • ' Wall, stranger, what mought your name 
he?" He was economical, though, for his entire uniform was drawn 
from the Quartermaster's department, and consisted of the reg'ular uni- 
form issued to privates in the infantry. The sleeves of the coat and the 
legs of the pants were all about six inches too short for his upper and 
lower limbs ; but he was gorgeous in his shoulder straps. They were 
of the finest, and used to i"emind me of a pair of tired American eagles 
taking a rest on the opposite top branches of a dead sycamore. And 
his original manner of giving the order to mount : ■ • Prepare for to git 
onto your critters — Git I" Why, it was enough to make the horses of 
his regiment send in a petition to swap places with government mules. 
I believe though he was finally discharged for incapacity, a mild army 
term for imbecility. 

There was one sad incident that occurred that winter, in February I 
think, that I was -eye witness to. That was the hanging of young Da- 
vid O. Dodd as a spy. He was a mere boy, though a smart one, and 
while he was amenable under military law to his fate, yet his heroic 
bearing at the scaffold won my sympathy. I have no doubt that, raised 
as he had been, he thought he was in the right. 

But I forgot — this is to be an amusing sketch, to bring back to mind 
the days when the familiar hail was •• Jump off and grab a. root."" Well. 
here goes for one on myself : While I was still • ' raw. " (and so was the 
weather that morning, ) I was detailed for camp guard. Having been 
on duty the day before, patrolling, I did not expect it, and had loaned 
my gloves to one of ray comrades to go on picket, for the weather was 
cold, and as you know we only wore our side arms, and I was a tender 
plant, having been raised a pet. While Adjutant Donnell was going 
through the usual foi-mula of detailing us into reliefs, 1 put my hands 
in my pants pockets for warmth, when he suddenly accosted me with, 
'What is your company, sir?" -Company E," I replied, thinking 
that perhaps he had discovered in my expressive countenance some evi- 
dence of the lurking genius which should soon raise me from the ranks : 
and he had. but not exactly as the heroes of the ten cent war libraries 
go up — not much. • • Sergeant of Company E, march that man oflf to 
the guard house, and the next time he comes on guard mount perhaps 
he will know enough to keep his hands out of his pockets." Well. 1 
believe I did after that, though I only rusticated there about ten min- 
utes, for Sergeant Wildasin reported the case to Lieutenant Nugen. 



364 raSTORT OF first IOWA CAVALRY. 

who was in temporary command that day, as Captain Bereman was 
away, and he went over and made some remarks more forcible probably 
than polite, to the Adjutant, (he had seen me lend my gloves,) and 
they came and released me. I can laugh at it now, but I tell you, boys, 
it hurt then. That was my first and last visit to the guard house as a 
prisoner. 

HOW CAPTAIN CALDWELL BECAME "OLD SORGHUM.^' 

BY J. H. SPRINGER, COMPANY I. 

One incident of our experiences in the field during the rebellion 
afforded a great deal of amusement for the " boys," and gave to one of 
our gallant officers a nom de plume which never left him during his 
term of service. While on a scout from Butler, Missouri, under Colonel 
Warren, we had marched the greater part of the night. In the early 
morning we were halted in a lane, near a farm house, waiting a report 
from the advance. A number of the boys dismounted and entered the 
yard and house. Colonel Warren ordered them into ranks again. 
Some of them were very slow in obeying orders, whereupon the Colonel 
dismounted and went in after them. Some of the boys ran around the 
house, with the now irritated Colonel after them. When he reached 
the kitchen door, which was open, he looked in and beheld a sight that 
sadly shocked his military dignity. The previous irritation became an 
indignant disgust, for one of his gallant Captains was quietly seated 
before a cupboard, with a biscuit in one hand and a pitcher of sorghum 
molasses in the other, busily engaged in his attempts to crush the re- 
bellion by bringing disaster and starvation upon the inhabitants, 
regardless of all the surroundings. The Colonel in his uncontrollable 
wrath in stentorian tones called out, • • Captain Caldwell, what in h- — 11 
are you doing hei-e ? " The placid Captain, without looking up. and 
taking another dip of the biscviit in the sorghum, quietly replied, • ' Eat^ 
ing sorghum, sir.'' From that time he became Captain Sorghum. Major 
Sorghum and Lieutenant Colonel Sorghum, and the applied name was 
accepted by him with characteristic grace. He was not a polished 
military man. but was ever ready for duty and always did it well. A 
brave man, a gallant soldier. 

HOW NOT TO HAVE BEES STING YOU IN THE MOUTH. 

BY W. K. EGGLESTON, COMPANY G. 

April lOth. The pioneer corps cut a bee tree to-day, and I among 
others got some honey and some stings. Taking the advice of a by- 
stander, who said he was ' • afeared " of bees, but that they would not 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 365 

sting you in the mouth if you didn't • • chaw 'em, " I paid reg-ard to 
what I was chawing and avoided bad consequences. 

A SOUR MILK RECEPTION. 

Nov. 29th. While out on a scouting expedition, one of our boys 
strayed from the ranks and entered a house. In a few moments we saw 
him emerge on the jump, while in the rear and close upon him, with 
hair flying wildly in the air. was a woman with a bucket of sour milk, 
and ere he could escape he was covered from head to heels with the 
contents. Undoubtedly it served him right. He was greeted with loud 
cheers by the boys. 

A DUCKING BEE AND A SMALL INSURRECTION. 

While in camp on the Arkansas river above Little Rock, in 1864. wo 
had quite an exciting time for awhile under the following circumstan- 
ces : A colored boy, Harry, Major Jenks' servant, had been to a 
plantation near camp and insulted a little girl about eleven years old. 
She and her mother came to camp and complained to the Major. Col- 
lecting sevei'al negroes together, he called the girl to identify the one 
who had insulted her. Without any hesitation she pointed out Harry. 
The Major put him in charge of six men. who took him down to the 
river, and getting into a small boat they pulled out from shore. Hav- 
ing- tied a rope around him under his arms, they coinpelled him to 
jump overboard. When he came up he scrambled into the boat, nearly- 
overturning it. Again he was sent in, and this time he struck for 
the shore, but when he reached the end of the rope a strong pull sub- 
merged him. Then he again climbed into the boat, in spite of efforts 
to prevent him. They now returned to camp, but evidences of strong 
feeling were manifested among the boys near the landing, and soon 
they came up to headquarters where Harry was. Jenks had evidently 
seen everything, and Lieutenants Hosford and Townsend were 1)oth 
with him. all having their side ai'ms on. The crowd soon arrived, and 
while the greater part of it formed arovmd the officers, one, a member 
of the First Missouri Cavalry, charged at Harry and caught his arms 
from behind, the latter screaming "Major! Major!" Major Jenks 
jumped upon a log and commanded. " Release that negro ! " " Things 
go by order here." said Hosford. The fellow needed no second order, 
but as he released his hold he tried to hide in the crowd, exclaiming as 
he did so : "Yes, boys, let him go — you had all better go to your quar- 
ters who will not do as you agree and stand up to your work like men." 
••Arrest that man and bring him before me," said Jenks. This was 



:i66 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

done at once, and as he came before Jenks the Major said : '-Now, sir. 
take a good look at me. (The Major was a robust. •• well built ■" man.) 
Do you think you are a man of my build ? I will have you understand 
I command here." Then turning to the crowd he said : "The negro 
has received all the punisment he shall receive at present. I have no 
authority to take a man's life if I wished to do so. Now disperse, and 
let me see no more such gatherings, or I will punish evei'y participant." 
And this ended the matter. 

WHY GIBBS APPEARED WITH A BAD HAT. 

In our company we had a recruit by the name of Gibbs who was not 
very particular as to his appearance. He came out on inspection one 
day minus a portion of his "malitia" hat rim As the officer halted in 
front of him he asked, ' ' Well, sir, what ails your hat rim ? " Gibbs. 
without cracking a smile, "A limb fell on it, sir." Officer, unable to 
suppi'ess a smile, •■ Pretty narrow escape," wasn't it?" "You bet!" 
said Gibbs. 

Another member of our company. Mui'phy by name, came on inspec- 
tion carrying a revolver in his hand. Being questioned in regard to it 
he said, ' ' Be jabers, sor, an' I had no t-arabine, and I tho't I must have 
some arums in me hands." 

A NARROW ESCAPE. 

December 1st, 1864, we were on a scouting expedition above Little 
Rock. At night we camped near the Arkansas river. The night being 
cool, Captain Hosford, Company G, built a fire at the foot of an old 
stub of a tree about twenty feet high, and he and Cal. Lee laid their 
blankets near the fire and retired. Shortly after they had lain down 
Cal. heard a cracking and awoke the Captain just in time to escape be- 
fore the old tree fell across their bed, crushing the Captain's saddle he 
had used for a pillow, and smashing the revolver he had not time tt) 
remove. 

RELIEVED FROM DUTY. 

December 8th. 1864, General Bussey, at Little Rock, Arkansas, 
made us a speech. Among other things he said : ' ' Some make an ex- 
cuse for drinking intoxicating liquors, saying that there are heavy taxes 
imposed upon the sale of such liquors, and if they drink a great deal 
they are aiding the Government by thus increasing its revenue. But," 
said the General, • • I wish it distinctly understood that those who are 
under my command are relieved from this duty from this time hence- 
forth as long as I have the honor of commanding them." 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 367 

HOW THE BOYS TOOK ONLY THE TOP RAILS. 

March 4th, 1865, we started, on a scouting expedition to Ripley. 
Mississippi, and camped about eight miles from Memphis. At night. 
as wood was quite scarce, and we were camped near a fence, the boys, 
strange to relate, commenced carrying the rails for camp fires. An 
old gentleman went to Colonel Thompson and complained of this act of 
the boys. The Colonel mounted his horse and rode out to the fence and 
called out in a loud voice, "Attention, First Iowa." Of course every 
one stopped his work to listen to the Colonel's order. "Now, boys," 
said he, "take none but the top rails," and then rode back to his quar- 
ters. Of course as each man came up he took only the top rail. 

BRITTAIN'S EXPERIENCE WITH A BLIND HORSE. 

On Friday. March 10th, we started on our return ; passed through 
LaGrange. Tennessee, a pretty little town built on a bluff overlooking 
Wolf river. There was a wide, low bottom skirting the stream, and a 
turnpike nearly half a mile long built across it to raise the wagon road 
above high water. In the middle of the pike a bridge had been built 
over the channel of the river, and the rebs or the citizens had taken up 
the greater portion of the planking ; but we succeeded in finding a suffi- 
cient number of planks, by placing them lengthwise across the bridge 
timbers, to enable us to ride across it in single file. There was a man 
in our company by the name of Brittain, who during the expedition 
had picked up an extra horse, which unfortunately was blind in both 
eyes. When Brittain came to the bridge, he thought while riding his 
good horse he could lead the other across. After he was fairly on the 
bridge the horse he was riding, desirous of having as much of the 
bridge for his own use as possible, commenced crowding, and the result 
was the blind horse was crowded olT the bridge • ' kersplash " into the 
river, about ten feet below, and between swimming and wading he 
came out about six or eight rods below the bridge, where he stood in 
water about up to his belly. The loss of the horse would not have been 
so very great, but unfortunately Brittain, in order to relieve his good 
horse as much as possible, had packed some of his bedding, etc.. on 
the blind horse. All his persuasive eloquence would not bring that 
blind horse back to him, so he had to wade out to him, as his good 
horse had moved on with the column. So mounting the blind horse he 
made his way back to the turnpike, as it was still nearly a quarter of a 
mile to ground that was not overflowed. For some reason that I do not 
now remember, the command went off the pike before reaching the west 
end of it. and the horses waded several rods to the higher ground. 



368 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

When Brittain's blind horse came to this descent, which was quite ab- 
rupt, he evidently thought he was going to fall again, and he gave a 
spring as if to clear a ditch and landed in the water, • ' bucking " Brit- 
tain over his head. Not content with this, he continued his lunges, 

and Brittain would no sooner get his head above water and say d n, 

than he would knock him under again. Finally one of the boys came 
to his rescue, and once more mounting his blind horse soon reached 
camp, when he was soon busily engaged drying his wearing apparel, 
blankets, etc., feeling that picking up blind horses was not a pleasura- 
ble employment. 

•HOGS EAT MEAL— WE EAT HOGS." 
On the 18th of November, 1865, 1 was in the ambulance corps on 
detached service, at Austin, Texas. By refei'ence to my diary I find 
this entry: -'Hogs eat meal — we eat hogs." This was how it came 
about. We wei'e camped near the Blind Asylum. An old sow with a 
litter of pigs got to running in camp, and finally got into our tent and 
ate our meal. In running her out a stone struck one of her pigs, killing 
it. General Custer was very sti'ict, and a farmer near by having missed 
some chickens, Lieutenant Heberling in command of our corps learned 
that our camp was to be searched, and somehow we got an inkling of 
it. This was just after we had got our pig dressed, to save it. you 
know. We hastily secreted it in a hollow tree near. The inspection 
followed closely on the heels of our precaution, and of course nothing 
could be found. It is needless to say that a savory piece of meat found 
its way to the Lieutenant^ s tent, which did not report again to our 
quarters. 

A RECRUIT S COMPLAINT. 

Some of our recruits thought they had a very hard and rough time. 
One fellow, in his complaint about the strict discipline of the service 
and the poor beds, was led to exclaim, -Here Tve been in the service 
for forty days and have had neither a furlough nor straw." 

BOLTON ACTING AS AN M. D. 

BY JAS. L. BOLTON, COMPANY K. 

While at Clinton, Missouri, I was called upon to administer to a pa- 
tient for sore eyes, W. B. Herriman, Company K. He put his eye wash 
in the orderly's desk for safe keeping. The orderly kept a bottle of 
cholera medicine in the same desk, both being of about the same color. 
Herriman in his haste to get the bottle seized the wrong one, and hand- 
ing it to me I had him lie down on his back upon the grass, that I could 





V 









R. M. Swan, Co. C. 
Isaac Rhodes, Co. B. 



Paul Hendricks, Co. C. 
M. M. Chatfibld, Co. B, 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVAX,RY. 3H9 

the more easily drop the medicine in his eyes. This I did in regular 
M. D. style, but it was no sooner in than he jumped to his feet and 
commenced dancing about and swearing in his stuttering accents, and 
howling like a hyena. He could discount Colonel Fitz Henry Warren 
when he was on his tantrums, giving it to some of the companies — call- 
ing Company K the damned oyster merchants. Company E the chicken 
thieves. Company L the horse thieves, and Company M too mean for 
any name. etc. Herriman did not try any more cholera medicine for 
his eyes. 

HOW THE BOYS OBTAINED ' BUG JUICE." 

BY HENRY GREGORY, COMPANY G. 

I will give you one or two illustrations (facts) of how the boys of the 
First Iowa obtained • • grog. " One morning in the ea rly part of the 
winter of 1863 two soldiers — one of Company B as a matter of course, 
and one of Company G — stood on the opposite side of the street in front 
of the commissary department, in Little Rock. Arkansas, wondering 
how they could manage to get a drink. Just at that moment a Second 
Lieutenant of the Third Arkansas Cavalry came out of the commissary 
department with a demijohn, and gave it to a colored man in a govern- 
ment wagon. Company G says to Company B. -Come with me and we 
will -make the riffle.' *" So over they went. Company G walked up to 
the Lieutenant, shook him warmly by the hand, inquired for the boys 
of the Third very earnestly, etc.. etc. The Lieutenant in turn very un- 
suspiciously asked if they would not imbibe a little corn juice on his 
account. They unhesitatingly accepted the kindly offer, imbibed, shook 
hands, and parted. The Lieutenant, saying he had an engagement at 
the hotel, ordered the negro to drive back to camp with the corn juice. 
Company G told Company B to lead the horses east a block and he 
would meet him. So away went Company G. and hailing the negro 
he said, 'The Lieutenant sent me after that demijohn." The unsus- 
pecting negro at once gave it to (^ompany G. who with Company B 
was soon on the way to camp with a demijohn of bug juice ahead, sur- 
rounded by lots of friends. 

At another time a Company B and the same Company G boy met up 
town. Company B pointed to a room in the second story of a frame 
building, where they sold the juice to soldiers 'on the sly." but said he 
had no money. •■ Well." says Company G. "give me your canteen. I 
will go over and have yours and mine .filled, and when they are filled 1 
will walk to the window looking for my money. You then run up to 
the room and arrest me. I will endeavor to pay. but you mai'ch me off 

47 



370 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

under arrest.'" Well, the scheme worked like a charm, and we were 
two canteens full of the juice ahead. When we got back we held a reg- 
ular camp meeting. 

SOME CAUSES OF VIDETTES' ALARMS. 

While the reg-iment was in camp at Cross Hollow, Arkansas, our 
company was on picket out on White river. We could see the • ' John- 
nies" in the day time. One night A. W. Carroll and myself were put 
on guard in a piece of woods at the corner of a field. There was no 
road there. We were lying behind a log. The leaves were dry, and 
we heard a sound as though some one was walking. It came closer and 
closer. We got ready to shoot. It would come a few steps and stop ; 
then move on again. We could see nothing until it came around the 
end of the log. It proved to be a toad. After we had discovered the 
<;ause of alarm we were greatly relieved, as one of our men had been 
shot on that post the night before. 

WHAT INCONVENIENCE A HICKORY RAIL GAVE. 

BY GEORGE WELCHYMER, COMPANY A. 

In the winter or spring we were in camp between Georgetown and 
•Sedalia. Missouri, 1861-2. Louis Frisbie and myself were detailed on 
forage guard, going out for sheaf oats. Everj^thing about camp was 
wet and muddy, and our kindling wood was about out, so when return- 
ing, about three miles from camp, we put two large hickory rails on 
one of the wagons and took them to camp. Just after they were thrown 
off Captain Torrence came up and asked the teamster who put them on 
the wagon. He told the (>aptain who did it. In a short time we were 
ordered to report to headquarters, mounted. Upon reporting, the Cap- 
tain ordered us to each take a rail on our shoulder and put them on the 
fence just where we took them off. We extracted some of the most fit- 
ting words from our vocabulai'y, but not in the presence of the Captain. 
I got revenge, but Frisbie did not. A day or two after the occurrence 
I was on picket. My post was on the road to Sedalia, on the bank of a 
small creek. It had rained all day, and the creek was nearly bank full. 
Captain Torrence went to Sedalia that day. Our orders were very 
strict in relation to permitting any one to a])]iroHcb us. I was on duty 
from nine to eleven o'clock i", M. About ten o'clock I heard -Old 
Thunder" (the name of the Captain's horse) coming on the other side of 
the creek. I halted the Captain when he was about a hundred yards 
from me: ordered him to dismount, advance and give the countersign. 
He called to me and said. •• Welchymer. don't vou know me ? " I said. 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 371 

r am supposed to know no person in an enemy's country — advance and 
give the countersign or I will fire upon you." --Now, Welchymer, " he 
said, "this is rough," but off he got and waded through the mud until 
he came to the bank of the creek ; then, seeing its full banks, he said. 
• • Welchymer, let me get on my horse and ride through." (I thought 
of that hickory rail.) I replied, "Advance and give the countersign 
or I will fire upon you." He started in at once and waded through the 
creek just like any other little man. Reaching the shore, he gave me 
the countersign, mounted his horse, and went to camp. The next 
morning he sent for me. I thought the other side of the rail matter 
was coming up. But he said, ■ ■ Welchymer. you are the best soldier in 
this command," and gave me a great deal of credit. He did not know 
that the most of it was due to that hickory rail. 

HOW AN OFFICER WANTED TO FORD THE RIVER. Etc. 

BY JOAB SOMEKS, COMFANY I,. 

On the raid to Van Buren, Arkansas, Dei^ember 2Sth. 1862. we 
struck the enemy's pickets at Dripping Springs. The rebel force loca- 
ted at this place consisted of about one thousand Texas cavalry, and 
when we routed those apostles of old Jeff I roared and laughed until 
my sides pained me. First, there were the tents standing, wagons 
without mules, some with one mule hitched up and left in that condi- 
tion, in their great haste for life and liberty. Along the road were 
scattered broken wagons, men's chests, hats, caps, knives find forks, 
broken saddles, blankets, shirts, drawers, pants, crinoline, whetstones, 
and other things too numerous to mention. We charged them into Van 
Buren, when they retreated across the Arkansas river. We were fortu- 
nate in finding a drug store, with a good supply of liquor of various 
kinds. The boys ran in all directions for jars, crocks, pots, and any- 
thing to hold the precious • uiekil.'' It did us good all over, and none 
got out of shape either. V\'e all got in good humor and felt rested. 
Lieutenant Simeral felt so good that he wanted to charge Fort Smith, 
across the river. He said the First Iowa could -ford the river." Dear, 
good man, I like him for all that. Well, we made our coffee, and dark- 
ness soon came on. I told Simeral it was my turn to go on picket. He 
said I was to stand but one hour. It was on a dark, bushy road, lead- 
ing to Fort Smith landing. I sat on my horse for a short time, but it 
seemed for a life time, and it seemed as though it would kill me. 1 
dismounted, and took the bridle on my arm, drew my cape over my 
head, and rolled over to rest a bit, and was fast asleep by the time 1 
reached the ground. How long I slept I cannot tell, but when I opened 



372 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

my eyes and raised up, there sat a man on horseback. Well, I was not 
disconcerted in the least, but thought he was a reb. Quick as thought 
1 asked him how long he had been there. He said about an hour ; that 
I was sleeping so good he thought he would not wake me. I did not 
stop to make any further inquiries, but started for the post. 

SCOUTING AND FORAGING— DID NOT FIND HAM. 

After the fall of Richmond we were sent out on a two days' scout, 
under General J. P. C. Shanks, to look after General Lee and his gray- 
backs. General Shanks stationed guards at every house and forbade 
any foraging. After we went into camp I went to a large brick house 
where General Shanks was quartered. It being dark I challenged the 
sentinel — who. by the way, was a First Iowa boy — and asked him if 
there was any meat about there. He said -'Yes, right in there," 
pointing to an open shed, and turned upon his beat. I went for the 
meat tub, found the biggest kind of a ham. shouldered it. and went off 
to camp. Our mess fared well that night. 

On the day after. General Shanks ordered out Captain Mclntyre 
with a detail of his company to fetch in a few hundred pounds of rebel 
meat. We each took what we could on our horses, and when we got to 
camp filed off to our quarters. General Shanks sent for the meat, but 
none could be found. The General was very mad because we were not 
able to find the meat. 

One morning on our return to Memphis, about ten o'clock, we 
halted to make coffee. While there Jewett. one of our boys, came in 
with a piece of meat. • • Is there any more ?" I asked. He replied yes. 
Away I went and procured two nice little hamh, and as I was coming 
back I met the Lieutenant Colonel and Major. They were about fifty 
yards from me. I had a ham in each hand. I dropped them and 
walked on as if nothing had happened. They sa w the act, and showing 
their good manners turned off into the woods. I very quickly turned 
back, got my hams, and went to camp in safety. 

THE EVACUATION OF CLINTON— A BI(4 S( ARE. 

BY SURGEON M. B. COCHRAN. 

He says, under date of June 15th, 1885, in reference to the Colonel 
Warren water melon incident : The time was when Colonel Warren 
took the regiment out, after the attack on Lone Jack, Missouri, by, 1 
think. Quantrell and his gang of bushwhackers. It was in the summer 
of 1862 and when the regiment was at Clinton, Missouri. I did not go 
out for some reason, (probably because Warren loved Allen better than 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 373 

he did me and I reciprocated his attachment, and we always agreed 
better when we were a good ways apart). The next day after the 
regiment left under Warren, word came that the "Philistines'" were 
upon us who were left in camp. We had a few sick which I loaded 
into wagons and .sent to Sedalia. Thompson (Black Bill) was in com- 
mand. He ordered all the stores that could be removed to Sedalia. 
and set fire to his own company property and all the quartermaster 
supplies he could not get away that night. I loaded up my horses 
with army pants, coats and boots, and looked like a Jew peddler on a 
tramp. It was a big scare with no enemy near. 

When we got to Sedalia we found Colonel Totten in command, who 
had been ordered to relieve Warren, and at the same time we had word 
that Warren had been promoted to Brigadier General. The next day 
r went back and met Warren at Calhoun with his command. 

LEARNING TO BLOW THE BUGLE CALLS. 

Do you know that (Japtain • had an awfully cowardly pair of legs. 

but when he got his •• Ajax" up he was brave enough ? I remember 

being in Colonel Warren's quarters one day, when Captain came 

in. saying. -Colonel, I am going to learn to sound the bugle calls." 
■ • What is your idea of that ? " said the Colonel. ' ' Can't you employ all 
your time drilling your company and make them efficient ? " •■Yes," 
replied the Captain, • ■ but that damned bugler of mine is so damned 
reckless that if we should get into a fight and I should order him to sound 
the retreat, he would be just damn fool enough to blow the advance, 
and I am going to learn to blow the calls myself." The Captain, how- 
evei". was generous to a fault. 

AN INCIDENT— HOW A CAPTAIN KEPT QUIET. 

When we were at Cross Hollows, under General Herron, we made a 
forced march one night to scoop Magruder. General Totten went by 
the way of Fayetteville, and ordered General Herron to take his cav- 
alry only and go down in the night as near Magruder's camp as he 
could and wait for Totten to commence the attack and then push on. 
The night was pitchy dark, and one of our Captains commanded the 
advance guard. General Herron had given orders to have no talking 
along the entire line, and for our Captain to proceed until he found the 
enemy's pickets, and if was he fired upon to halt and quietly fall back 
a few rods, then send bac'k an orderly to report, but above all things 
to keep still. It was a long, dreary march over lonely roads, and as 1 
was not well 1 went back to the ambulance to ride, directing the driver 



374 • HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

to keep close to the rear of the column. The horses walking- in the 
road made very little noise, and I think the driver got asleep and the 
mules and ambulance stopped to take a rest. I woke up and got out. 
but could hear nothing of the column. Our stop was at the forks of a 
road. It took a little time to find out our bearings, but I struck a match 
and found the tracks of the horses and went on as fast as we could. 
It was some time before we caught up with the column, and then I took 
my horse and went forward to the head of it. I found General Herron 
in a towering passion, cursing" away down in the legs of his long cavalry 
boots, for he would not speak loud. He had sent the Captain forward, 
who proceeded until a shot from a rebel vidette wakened up the hills 
with a reverberating echo which soimded like a platoon of soldiers 
firing by file. Instead of sending an orderly back as he had been di- 
rected to do, the Captain himself rode back until he got within hailing 
distance of the General, when he yelled out, • ' General, they have fired 
on the advance guard." The General hastily rode up to him and told 
him to keep quiet, to go back and quietly halt his men ancj tell them to 
keep still. The Captain returned to within hailing distance of the 
guard, and then called out at the top of his voice. • • Advance guard, 
halt." When General Herron came upon the advance, he found the 
Captain at the road side in the rear, cursing his stupidity for riding a 
white horse. 

It was laughable in the extreme, but it saved Magruder's forces, as 
Totten did not come up on time. We captured their camp and much of 
their breakfast, but they escajDed to the mountains. 

What a troop of reminiscences these things bring up. It seems 
hardly possible that they happened twenty-five years ago. 

A BALD HEAD MISTAKEN FOR A WATER MELON. Etc. 

BY H. J. LEONARD. COMPANY L. 

On the Lone Jack (Missouri) scout, I think at Pleasant Hill, the offi- 
cers sent out an ambulance for some water melons. We were short of 
camp kettles to cook in, so had to take turns in using them. Tom and 
I could not get the us^ of them until about ten o'clock in the evening. 
We had a couple of old hens which we wanted to boil, so we filled our 
canteens with water and went to bed, and were awakened when our 
turn came. We soon had our old hens in the kettle, and while watch- 
ing it one of us suggested getting some water melons from the ambu- 
lance. So we went for them. After opening the end curtain of several 
ambulances we found the melons. As I was the tallest I handed out 
two. The third one Tom said ' ' was green, and green melons are better 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVAL,RY. 375 

foi- officers.'''' So I laid it back, and the moon shone in just right, so 
that Colonel Warren''s head (the Colonel was sleeping in the ambulance) 
looked just like the end of a melon, in the night. 1 snapped it, and 
the Colonel spoke in his quick manner, '-Wha! Wha ! " We then 
started upon the run, each taking a melon. The Colonel stuck his head 

out and said, "Come back ! ty you ! 1 know you ! " But we 

purpo'sed to keep going. After eating the water melons we burned the 
rinds. The next day I was riding beside our Captain, D. C. Mclntyre, 
and under promise of not to "give us away'" I told him about it. After 
we i-eturned to Butler the officers had a "jamboree"'' at the ColonePs 
headquarters, and while there Captain Mclntyre must have told the 
( 'olonel about it. At all events, next morning about nine o'clock an 
orderly came to our quarters and called for Sergeant Leonard. I started 
lor the Colonel's quarters, and as I passed Captain Mclntyre's tent he 
stuck his head out and said, " How are you. Melons?'' I mistrusted 
then why I was wanted. When I reported to Colonel Warren he said, 
in his imperative way. "Sergeant Leonard, how do you tell when water 
melons are ripe?" I replied. "When they sound flat and when the 

quirl is dead." "Well." replied the Colonel, "by , sir, my quirl 

is not dead yet ! Over behind the trunk you will find the black bottle. 
Take a drink, and hereafter, sir. no more of those practical jokes.'" 1 
found the bottle, and with it an India rubber tumbler, and I took the 
biggest drink of my life, it was almost a "deadener. " and returned to 
quarters. 

OLD BATTALION. 

BV .SURGEON LOTHKOP. 

While a portion of the regiment was at Benton Barracks, under Col. 
Warren, preparing for active field service, strict discipline was enforced 
by the Colonel. This was a little irksome for the boys, and they, very 
naturally, were at times a little out of humor. In drilling the men the 
Colonel accustomed himself to the use of the word "battalion" until it 
became a byword with the boys, and the Colonel was referred to as 
•■Old Battalion." It was the habit of the Colonel to go down to the 
<'ity every afternoon. The barracks were located on the fair grounds, 
shaded by large old trees. As the Colonel left camp the boys would 
conceal themselves behind these trees, and after he had passed them 
they would dodge their heads one side and call out "Old Battalion !" 
and quickly dodge their heads behind the trees again. The Colonel 
would halt, look around him. but discovering no one would go on jigain. 
Presentlv another one from a distant tree would call out • Old Battal- 



376 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

ion ! '' This annoyance would be repeated until the Colonel reached 
the gate. This fun for the boys was continued for two or thi-ee days, 
when one of Company K boys was too slow in getting- his head in cover. 
The Colonel saw him. Keeping his eyes fixed upon the tree, he walked 
up to it. caught the fellow by the collar, and in his pecviliar, incisive 

language said, "Old Battalion, eh! -ty you!" Then holding 

him by the collar he would walk with him a few rods, then stop, his feel- 
ings getting the better of him, a,nd say, "Old Battalion, eh! ty 

you!" Then they would proceed on the way to Company K's 

quai'ters. This was repeated a number of times, the Colonel giving 
vent each time to his feelings. Reaching the quarters, he assisted him 

with his foot, with another "Old Battalion, eh!" ty you!'" 

and then left for the city — the boys cheering to the echo. ■ • Old Bat- 
talion " was heard no more about camp, and the Colonel took no fur- 
ther note of the matter, as punishment had been properly administered 
according to his code, and that was the end of it. 

THE NOTED WARRIOR OF THE MARAIS DES CYGNES. 
In April, 1862, Colonel Warren established a post at Butler. Mis- 
souri, near the Marais des Cygnes river. Bushwhackers and guerrillas 
infested this locality, and our scouting parties and forage trains were 
often fired upon, making it exceedingly uncomfortable and dangerous 
for the small command at this post. Near this place was an island in 
the river covered with dense iinderbrush. One day a report came to 
headquarters that a force of rebels were on the island, and were about 
to make an attack upon the post. Captain Jenks — who by the way was 
a brave man and afterwards proved himself a most gallant officer — was 
ordered out with a force to meet the rebs on the bank of the river and 
drive them from the island. The Captain cautiously approached the 
fiver, throwing out an advance with flankers, to prevent surprise. 
Reaching the vicinity of the island, he sent forward a few men to re- 
connoiter. They could see no enemy, but heard quite a commotion on 
the island — a running to and fro, cracking of dry limbs, breaking of 
brush, etc., indicating a large force in cover. Upon receiving this re- 
port the young Captain, having an indistinct view of the situation, (he 
was crosseyed,) reported the facts to Colonel Warren, asking for a 
section of a battery as a reinforcement. Accordingly a section was 
ordered out, and after taking great care to get it in proj^er position, a 
shell was sent over by way of compliments. The result was that the 
astonished enemy made a ■ ' big racket" on a double quick for the other 
side of the island. The boys at once crossed to the island as best they 



mo 




HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 377 

could, Captain Jenks in the advance, and charged upon a lot of Gov- 
ernment mules, which had been turned loose upon the island for rest 
and recuperation, after having been overworked and exhausted in our 
supply trains. This engagement was afterwards known as the battle of 
the Marais des Cygnes, and Captain Jenks received the title of ■ ' The 
Skew- Eyed Warrior of the Marais des Cygnes."' 

WHY CAPT. JENKS REQUESTED LIEUT. SCHRIVER TO CURSE 

HIS MEN. 

BY SURGEON LOTHROP. 

Captain Jenks, Company D, before he entered the service, was a 
deacon in the Presbyterian Church. He was a strict disciplinarian, a 
brave and exemplary man. His Lieutenant, W. R. Schriver, vras also 
;i most excellent and brave officer. He had, however, a habit when ex- 
cited of resorting to very emphatic language, not found in Church 
discipline. As the old saw goes, he could "swear by rote." The Cap- 
tain took g'reat pride in having his men perfectly drilled, often making 
it exceedingly tedious for them. At such times they would be very 
slow, awkward, and appear ridiculous in obeying orders. For instance, 
when the Captain gave the order to draw sabre, the boys would draw 
their sabres and put them under their arms or stick the points in the 
ground, and when the oi'der to prepare to fight on foot was given, they 
would manage to tread on each other's toes. On one occasion the 
pranks of the boys were too much for the Captain, and in a tone of 
utter disgust he called to his Lieutentant, saying, "Lieutenant Schriver, 
please curse these men ; I am a Lieutenant in the C'hui-ch at home and I 
can't.'" 

THE INSURRECTION OF COMPANY E. 

BY SURGEON LOTIIROP. 

While at the Post at Butler, Missouri, in the summer of 1!S(52, a 
party and a dance in town was gotten up by the E boys, the time and 
place selected and all arrangements made, girls invited and every 
thing progressing finely until the afternoon of the day appointed, sup- 
posing as a matter of course that passes would be given them for the 
evening ; but, to the consternation of all. Colonel Warren refused to 
give a pass to a single individual, and ordered every man to remain in 
camp. But some of the boys were determined to go at all hazards, 
and "go they did.'" The next morning the irate Colonel gave them 
one of his short incisive speeches and placed the whole company in ar- 
rest for insurrection. A section of the Second Indiana Battery was 
brought out and placed in position to rake the company "fore and aft."' 
48 



378 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

The boys remained quiet all day. At night, however, in retaliation, they 
found an axle and wheels of an old wagon, and mounting an old piece 
of stovepipe upon it placed it in front of the Colonel's tent. In the 
morning the Colonel discovered that while his gun was in position, the 
artillery of the boys was threatening him. Taking in the beligerent 
aspect of affairs with a broad smile, he ordered the gun and Company 
E's war dog away. Company E was released from arrest and no further 
action was taken as to the insurrection. 

HOW THE DOCTORS APPROPRIATED A CARRIAGE. 

BY SURGEON LOTHROP. 

On one occasion when we were tramping back and forth in Missouri. 
Doctor Allen and myself came to the conclusion to change our mode of 
conveyance. In place of the saddle we would use a carriage. As we 
were in the rear of the column, the change would not be noticed for 
some time. So making our desires known to some of the boys, we soon 
found a double carriage and harness ready for us. In a twinkling, as- 
sisted by the boys, our saddles were in the carriage, our horses in har- 
ness hitched to the carriage, and very demurely we resumed our place 
in the column — going to war in a carriage with a double team. We 
continued our march for a few miles in this manner, when an old 
■' Butternut^' passed us riding a -mule, eying us sharply. Doctor Allen 
said, '•ril bet that old cuss wants to ride.'" He passed on. and in h 
few minutes back he came with Major Anderson. The Major, in a 
stern voice, but eyes brimful of laughter at our new mode of prosecu- 
ting the war. demanded : ■ ■ Where and when did you obtain that car- 
riage ? ■■ We replied that we found it beside the road a few miles back, 
and we thought we would experiment with the old thing. -'Well,"" 
said he, • ■ it belongs to this man, and you take it back to where you 
found it. That while it may be an improvement in the tactics of cav- 
alry. I do not approve of it." Doctor Allen replied that it was no im- 
provement, and he did not want to ride in the old thing anyhow. 

The Major then returned to the head of the (column and we com 
menced unhitching our horses. The man said that we should take the 
carriage back to his house. Doctor Allen replied. --Not by a — — 
sight : " that if he said anything more about it he would tear his old 
wagon to pieces, and make him think he had been struck by a young 
tornado. We left the mule, the man, and carriage and harness in the 
road. But the mule iifterwai-ds found its way into our camp. Two- 
horse carriages are not as useful as saddles for cavalry service. 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 379 

PREVENTING THE CHICKENS FROM CRYING (WT. 

BY SURGEON LOTHROP. 

I remember that on one occasion while on a scout. Colonel Ander- 
son (then Major) being in command, the chickens were greatly ex- 
ercised on account of our presence. Strict orders had been issued 
against foraging ; company and regimental conrnianders were held 
responsible for overt acts of the men. We had selected a. camp for the 
night at a fai^m house. The Major and myself had selected a place on 
the veranda for our bed, spreading our blankets and using our saddles 
for pillows. We had laid down for sleep. The boys were cooking and 
preparing rations for the next day. Suddenly the chickens roosting 
on the trees in the yard commenced squawking, making a terrible 
•'racket.''' The Major, with that stringent order in mind, jumped up 
and rushed out among the boys who were cooking, but everything was 
quiet, no sign of chicken about the fires, and the chickens themselves 
had become quiet. He returned and had just got snugly tucked in his 
blankets, when the chickens again commenced making a terrible noise. 
The Major was again on his feet in a moment and out among the 
chickens and boys, but everything was orderly and quiet. The rations 
were cooking and the boys (piietly watching the kettles. This pro- 
gramme was repeated three or four times, but no cause could be found 
for the queer actions of the chickens. On returning the last time the 
Major said, '-Those confounded boys ought to know what strict orders 
have been issued, and they ought to know better than to disobey them. "' 
I quietly informed him that if he thought he was going to catch any 
of the boys taking chickens, he was entirely mistaken, and that the 
best thing for him to do was to lie down and get some sleep, and let 
the chickens take care of themselves ; that they were probably loyal 
chickens, and wanted to show their appreciation of our presence here. 
The Major said that he had endeavored to obey orders, but that he 

would be eternally blest if he tried any longer to prevent mischief 

among those chickens, and w;is soon asleej). The next morning it was 
discovered that the boys had chickens served up in various styles. The 
hospital squad had been out and purchased chickens during the night, 
and at our breakfast the Major enjoyed prepared chicken with a relish. 

HOW SURGEON ("(K^HRAN RP:J0ICED AND WAS ASTONISHED. 

BY SURGEON LOTHKOP. 
While at Clinton, Missouri, our hospital was located in a nice -two 
story" house upon a hill in town. The country round about was good 
foraging ground, and our •hospital squad" by the aid of a little coffee 



380 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

could purchase anything we desired. As a result we ' ' lived at the top 
of the heap, " and the sick boys •• fared sumptuously every day." Stimu- 
lants when required were given freely, without regard to the regular 
quarterly hospital supply. Our cooks (as they ever were in the hospi- 
tal) were most excellent, and the hospital at Clinton became proverbial 
for its management throughout the command, especially for the many 
good things which were mysteriously found there. The sweetest ham, 
the nicest eggs, the fattest chickens, the best milk, ice, peach brandy, 
apple jack, mint juleps, etc., etc. Some of the squad had discovered a 
nice bed of mint near town. Colonel Warren, every time he came to 
Clinton, had to inspect the hospital, visit the sick and wounded boys. 
and after inspecting the dispensary where we kept our ice. mint, etc 
would declare it was the best hospital in the State. Our resources 
for supplies were mysterious yet ample. On one occasion, at the time 
the entire regiment was stationed at Clinton, Dr. Cochran was out with 
a scouting party. On their return some of the boys came in in ad- 
vance, and reported that they would reach Clinton soon after noon. Af- 
ter noon, knowing that Dr. Cochran enjoyed the good things of life. 
(Dr. Allen and myself being at the hospital.) we had prepared a good 
dinner for him, supjiosing that he would be hungry and enjoy it. When 
he arrived we had eaten our dinner. As he drove up to the hospital 
with the ambulance, he took out a box of whisky, and said as he came 
in : " Look here, I have carried this box of whisky on this scout and 
did not open it. I don't believe that either of you could have done the 
same thing." Of course we agreed with him, and expressed our great 
satisfaction at his success. (We were about out of our supply and our 
squad had not been very successful in foraging for more.) ' But," said 
Dr. Allen. •• don't you feel hungry? We have had our dinners : now 
you go in and get yours."" The Doctor said he was confounded hungry, 
and putting the box down he went in, and judging from the time he 
was there he enjoyed it immensely, forgetting all about his box of whis- 
ky. After he left it took Dr. Allen and myself but a very short time to 
ascertain what was in that box. The contents of every bottle was 
quickly emptied into canteens, bottles, etc., and then all the empty bot- 
tles replaced, the box nailed again, and put in same place as before, 
with no indication of it having been disturbed. When the Doctor came 
from his dinner we were pleased to know he had enjoyed it so much. 
Of course we were all pleased — he on account of his good dinner, and 
we on account of a fresh supply of whisky. In about a week, the supply 
in the dispensary becoming short. Dr. Cochran tho,ught it about time to 



HISTORY OF li'IRST IOWA CAVALRY. 3S1 

open the box again, remarking on his ability to keep whisky intact. 
We also had a curiosity to see the box opened, wondering if it would 
prove to be of good quality, etc. He opened the box. found the pack- 
ing undisturbed ; pulling out a bottle he found it empty. This made 
him a little nervous. He pulled out another one — that was empty; then 
the third and fourth were in the same condition. Then he became ex- 
cited, and after he had taken out the last bottle and fovmd it empty, he 
looked up in blank astonishment. Dr. Allen said, with countenance 
as sober as a judge, ■ ' Why. Doctor. I thought you told us you did not 
open that box. "Well."" replied Dr. Cochran, -I didn't, but those 
rascally boys must have stolen it on that scout.'' The Doctor was never 
informed until recently what became of that whisky. 

HOW WINTERS FAH^ED IN THE ROLE OF CHAPLAIN. 

BY SURGEON LOTHROP. 

Hospital Steward Winters was one of the kindest and best natured 
fellows in the service. He was "Our Ed.'" generally in the best of 
moods, and always sure to • ■ raise a laugh " when relating his yarns and 
humorous stories. Our boys were often put in good spirits and high 
glee when Ed visited with them in our hospital. He always had kind 
and pleasant words for them. He had, however, a habit of using pro- 
fane language. Its use came as easy and natural to him as his mother 
tongue. It did not seem to be used viciously, but like one who "could 
not help it." Poor fellow, he has answered his last roll call, and joined 
some of the boys he so kindly cheered in their sore distress. 

In November, 1862. at the time we were in southwest Missouri 
when it rained nearly every day and there was scarcely any bottom to 
the mud. we camped for a day or two on Crane creek. Our hospital 
was located at the house of a Mr. Forvis, a good, pious Union man. 
The sick men were taken into the house and the dispensary tent pitched 
in the yard. Our genial Ed and the hospital boys occupied the tent. 
and notwithstanding the rain and mud Ed was in the best of spirits and 
the boys about him in about the same condition, singing songs and 
hymns and having a good time generally ; and the old gentleman, Mr. 
Forvis. seemed greatly pleased with his visitors. One day when it was 
raining "big guns" Ed came in with a sanctimonious phiz and asked 
Mr. Forvis if he had n Bible. He replied that he had and gave it to 
him. Ed thanked him kindly and went out. Mr. Forvis asked me if 
that was our Chaplain. This was altogther too good an opportunity to 
play a joke on Ed to be lost, so I at once replied that he was. This in- 
formation greatly pleased the old man. He said he had not heard a 



382 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

good Union sermon preached since the war broke out, and wanted to 
know if our Chaplain would not preach to him and his neighbors before 
we left. This was tough, but I was in for it. I replied, "Without 
doubt, if we remain here long- enoug-li." Soon we heard Ed and the 
boys singing Old Hundred, Uxbridge, St. Martins. Dundee, and other 
old and familiar tunes. The next morning we received orders to march. 
Ed was exceedingly busy packing, and getting the sick boys ready for 
the ambulances, that they might take their proper places in the column. 
The column was already moving past. Mr. Forvis and family were out 
in the yard viewing "the army." Ed hurriedly bridled his horse, then 
threw the saddle on him and reached under to catch the saddle girth ; 
missing it he reached again, but only a piece of it was thei'e. Stopping 
a moment he took in the sitviation. Then came thick and fast, ■ ' The 

ty — — rebel calves ! "" and "the s"' came thicker and faster. 

and faster. Mr. Forvis seemed thunderstruck, and the family perfectly 
amazed. Raising his hands in holy horror, Mr. Forvis said : • • Chap- 
lain ! Chaplain ! how dare you insult your Maker in this manner? How 
dare you to so blaspheme your God ? I am so sorry and surprised that 
one of your calling should so far forget himself as to use profane lan- 
guage ! " "Well," said Ed, -it is bad." Just then he again thought 

of the calf and broke out with. • ■ But, by sir, it is the first time 

on record that a ty lousy rebel calf has had the audacity to 

chaw"' a Union Chaplain's saddle girth in two." and led his horse to 
the column, amid shouts of laughter from the boys, leaving Mr. Forvis 
dumb with sorrow and amazement at the unparalleled wickedness of 
Army Chaplains. 

Ed had carelessly left his saddle exposed and the cattle were nearly 
crazed for salt. They had found the saddle girth impregnated with salt 
from the perspiration of his horse and had left scarcely a piece of it. 
Afterwards, in speaking of the affair. Ed said that perhaps the old 
gentleman was somewhat surprised, but he was in a great hurry to take 
his place in the column at the pi'oper time ; that after he reached for 
the girth the second time he very suddenly took in the situation and it 
got iiim a little off his base. 

HOSPITAL STEWARD'S KNAPSACK— COCUM BERRY JUICE. 

BY ST'RGEON LOTHROP. 

On the morning of October 4th, 1862. our army was preparing to 
attack a rebel force of about 13,000 strong, under General Cooper, at 
Newtonia. Missouri. We had marched all night in order to take the 
j)osition assigned us, and although very tired the prospect of a fight 



HISTORY OF FIKST IOWA CAVALRY. 8S8 

kept our spirits up. Our Ed as usual was full of fun. He rode a very 
light gray horse. As we were marching in column ])reparations were 
made for our field work. etc. Dr. Cochran ordered Ed with the hospi- 
tal knapsack to accompany him on the field. The carrying of the hos- 
pital knapsack strapped to his back was very repugnant to Ed's feelings 
and nearly "broke him up.'' He said nothing, however, but in a short 
time he dropped out of line. In a few minutes he came dashing up, 
with a countenance as innocent as a lamb, and took his place beside 
Dr. Cochran. The Doctor in virtuous indignation turned to him and 
said, -'What have you been putting your horse in this plight for?'" 

••Well," said Ed, "he always was a ed old dirty white thing, any 

way. and I thought I would improve his appearance a little." •• Sir. "" 
said the Doctor, "you cannot accompany me in that plight. You may 
fall back, sir." and calling Mr. Hervey, the other hospital steward, or- 
dered him to accompany him. Ed had stopped at a cocumberry bush 
and dotted that nearly white horse all over with cocumberry juice, 
making a niost ridiculous appearance. He was a " regular circus and 
menagerie all under one tent with one price of admission." The boys, 
although very tired, just shouted at the appearance of his horse. As 
Ed came back he said to us. • • It seems to me that Dr. Cochran is pretty 
ed particular." But he did not carry that knapsack. 

THE BOYS IN BLUE. 

BY J. R. JIARTIN, COMPANY E. 

Our army's being -mustered out," the army of the free, 

And soon the "final papers" will come to you and me: 

But, "boys." we fought and fought right well, and if at last we lag. 

We leave to our posterity a free, untarnished flag. 

How faithfully we followed our •• dear old stripes and stars," 
"Till in the grim dust of defeat went down the " stars and bars,'" 
Let other tongues than mine describe ; they'll tell the story right. 
How Freedom's flag now waves secure in Freedom's holy light. 

But I glory in the knowledge it was given us to teach. 
That the foul hand of rebellion was powerless to reach 
And wrench the crown of glory with parricidal hand. 
And brand with dire dishonor Columbia's happy land. 

How all the ■ ■ Old World Tyrants " would have smiled at our defeat. 
.\nd knowing that from their fell hands their serfs had no retreat. 
With iron hand had gi-asped the throat of poor though honest toil. 
To wrinsr still more of life-blood from the tillers of the soil. 



384 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 



But thank the "God of Battles," who was with our boys in blue. 
They sustained our "Goddess Liberty'' and saw her safely through ; 
And now, like King Balthazar, they the writing on the wall 
Will see, which tells their quailing souls that they like he must fall. 

And though our fighting days, comrades, are almost o'er, 
We have left to Freedom a domain that spreads from shore to shore. 
From east to west, from north to south, Columbia's realm is large. 
And she'll give her brave defenders all an honorable discharge. 

And our children coming after, with their sires' blood in their veins. 
Will protect what we defended on those bloody southern plains. 
So we'll light our pipes in comfort, tell our battles o'er and o'er. 
Until "God the Great Commander" orders us to join His corps. 

But do not blame the • ' boys in gray'" — we know that they were brave. 

And many a poor Confederate lies in an unknown grave, 

Who fought for his opinions, which he perhaps thought true : 

(rod save his soul ! he should have been among -the Boys in Blue." 



ROSTER. 

ADDITIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT. 

First 1(^wa Cavalry AssociatioM. 
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, February ;^d. 1891. 

I'oMRADES : — It was the intention of Suru-eon Lothrop to have added 
the full roster of the reofiraent. as it appears in the Adjutant (ieneraFs 
Reports of the State, but as the historical and biographical portions of 
the volume, together with the portraits and reminiscences, exceed the 
number of pages estimated, your committee think best to change the 
original plan so far as the roster is concerned, and to give only the 
names of all comrades, (except in case of field and staff, and of compa- 
ny commissioned officers, whose highest i-ank is given in eac^h enumer- 
ation, ) who ever served in the regiments Our only reason for so doing 
is to expedite matters in the publication, which has already been de- 
layed, and to curtail the expense somewhat in the cost of publishing the 
book, believing that the same will be satisfactory to oui" comrades. 

The narrative part of the work is just as written l)y our historian, 
.Surgeon Lothrop. 

Fraternallv. THE COMiMIT'l'EE. 



IN61-62. 

FIELD AND STAFF. 

Kit/, Henry Warren, Colonel, David A, Kerr. Adjutant. 

James (). Gower, Colonel. Martin L. IVlorris, (Quartermaster. 

Charles E. Moss, Lieut, Colonel. Sam"l C, Dickerson, Quartermaster. 

V. (Jad Bryan, Lieut, Colonel, Claus H, Albers, Qujirtermaster. 

Edwin W. Chamberlain. Major. Henry L. Dashiel. Commissai-y. 

•lo.seph W. Caldwell, Major. James M. Bryan. B;ittalion Adjt. 

Will. M. G. Torrence. ]\Iajor. IL K. Robin.son, Battalion Adjt. 

Daniel Anderson. Major. Joseph .S, Edsall. Battalion Adjt. 

Josex^h C. Stone. Adjutant. J. A. Landis. Bat. (Quartermaster. 
49 



3H(i 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 



Chas. A. Case, Bat. Quartermaster. 
W. H. Muzzy. Bat. Quartermaster. 
Milton B. ("ochran. Surgeon. 
David B. Allen. Asst. Surgeon. 
( 'has. H. Lothrop, Asst. Surgeon. 
('. B. Bosbyshell, A. A. Surgeon. 
.lames W. Latham. Chaplain. 
David C. Mclntyre. Serg. Major. 
.John B. Aiken, Serg. Major. 
Everts S. Ewing. Q. M. S. 
John A. Donnell, Q. M. S. 
Daniel Easley, Jr.. Com. Sergeant. 
VVm. W. Fluke, Com. Sergea^nt. 
-James Hervey. Hospital Steward. 
John J. Sanders. Hos. Steward. 
Edwin M. Winters. Hos. Steward, 
VVm. Mann. Farrier. 
VVm. Ct. Applegate, Sad. Sergt. 
Joseph T. Foster, B. S. M. 
James L. King, B. S. M. 
Hiram A. Park. B. Q. M. S. 
Dexter A. Buck. B. C. S. 
Thomas H. Elder. B. H. S. 



John Smitz, B. S. S. 
Moses C. Chase, B. S. S. 
Michael Cheeseman, B. V. S. 
Otto Rathlander, B. V. S. 
A. G. Cunningham. Bugler. 
Samuel Mitchell, Bugler. 
H. Kinstenmacher, Band Leader, 
John F. Wanichek. 1st Musician. 
David W. Forbes, 1st Musician. 
W. Clark Hall. 1st Musician. 
Hiram J. Dunwell, 1st Musician. 
Henry Minton, 2d Musician. 
John L. Marshall. 2d Musician. 
George F. Davidson, 2d Musician. 
Richard W. Brown, 2d Musician, 
John Rule, 3d Musician. 
Henry M. Butler. 3d Musician. 
Lewis Keen, 3d Musician. 
John M. Caldwell, 3d Musician. 
Gamaliel B. Williams, 3d Musician. 
Harlow Kenny. 3d Musician. 
Henry D. Keller. 3d Musician. 
Sylvester Butler, 3d Musician. 



COMPANY A. 

VVm. M. G. TorreiK-e, Captain. Robt. M. 



Alex. G. McQueen. Captain. 



John A. 



David A. Kerr, 
( "laus Henry Albers. 
.Vndrew S. Hamilton. 
Alex. P. Boyce. 
John L. Russell. 
Hugh Martin, 
John R. Marshall. 
Henry L. Morrill. 
Thomas C Van Hook, 
Walter S. Gray. 
James Turner. 
Brainard Bridges. 
Samuel H. Newell. 



Aaron H. Thatcher, 
(ieorge ReaHer. 
Michael Cheeseman. 
Isaac Ferrell, 
VVm. C. Andrews. 
Harvey Adair, 
Benjamin Blair. 
Hartlett Brown, 
VVm. O. Burns. 
(Jeorge \V. Collins. 
.\lexander Carter, 
William H. Carey. 
D.avid Conley, 



Joseph C. McCandless. William Carter, 



James Robertson, 
Thomas J. OT-Jleness. 
-Joseph S. Van Sant. 
C. F. Driskill. 
William (ioodiu. 
John Wright No. 1. 
.\ n t h( )ny Va na erma n . 
Thomas Reynolds, 
John Wr-ight No. 2. 
A. G. Cunningham. 
Henry Wisner-. 
Finton J'orrence. 
William K. Reeves. 



Francis M. Davis. 
'Thomas C. Fletcher. 
Lewis H. Foster, 
( )wen P. Gore. 
Hii-am (xabriel. 
Ambrose (iallagher. 
Edward Hollingswor 
Herman J. Huiskam 
John Herwick, 
Henry Hoagland. 
Wm. Horton. 
James Hill. 
James E. Johnston. 



Reynolds, 1st Lieutenant. 
Bishop. 2d Lieutenant, 

Frank H. Jones. 

'Thomas S. James. 

Alexander Kennedy, 

Charles H. Lyons. 

Wm. Linn. 

James McCutcheon. 

James* F. McKinley. 

George R. Miller. 

(Teorge McKee. 

John Mack, 

Charles C. Moss. Jr.. 

Peter Nelson. 

Andrew 0"Bleness. 

Thomas M. Pond. 

Samuel Pore, 

William Pore, 

Daniel Reibold. 

Elmore Reed. 

Lewis Rosecrans. 

Josiah Ray. 
•th. Lewis E. Short, 
p. Anglos F. Sala. 

John Smith, 

James Scott. 

Wm. Scheyli. 

Jacob M. Shook. 

Zachariah E. 'Thoinas 



I 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA (CAVALRY. 



387 



Pleas. A. Timberlake. 
Davis C. Turner, 
Prentice K. Tattle, 
Wm. F. Thornidke. 

.James Smith, 
John AV. C!ross, 
(ieorge W. Green. 
Wm. W. Blair. 
Moses Short. 
Michael Malone. 
Richard T. Baker. 



George VV. Wasson, 
George Welchymer. 
Addison Walkei-. 
Lewis B. Wisbey. 



William Wyatt, 
Walker Wilson, 
Harrison T. Wilson. 
Andrew J. Wilson. 



ENLISTMENTS AFTER Mt STEK. 

Milton B. Boord. 
Hiram C. Ellsworth. 
W. H. Fortune. 
Gilbert W. Jenree. 
Hiram Leland. 
Eli R. Oiler. 
Alexander Osborne. 



Prosper A. Rose. 
Levi Wm. Rosecrans. 
Orlando P. Sala. 
Elihu Seabolt, 
Edward Seabolt. 
George F. Davison. 



COMPANY B. 

William E. Leffingwell. Captain, 
Samuel S. Burdett. Captain, 

John K. McKeen 



Joseph S. Edsall. 
John M. Gates, 
Henry P. Shiffer, 
l^emuel C. Hinman. 
Robert B. Fulton. 
Jephtha B. Dunn. 
Wellington Allen. 
George Kincaid, 
David C. Mclntyre. 
Joseph S. Vandegrilf. 
Strong Buell, 
Benj. S. Woodward. 
Eliram S. Heberling-, 
Levi G. Allen. 
James Lister. 
George A. Gibson. 
.John A. Miller, 
Hiram (i. Hunt. 
Duncan C. McDonell. 
Wm. W. (Gardner. 
Robert T. LeCavalier. 
Job G. Morton. 
Lemuel Durling. 
Ezra J. SMith. 
Wm. L. Soper. 
Charles C. Hall. 
Isaac Gulick. 
John F. Waniehek. 
Edmond T. Ho])kins. 
(reorge (\ Tyler. 

John Downing. 
William H. Evans. 
Simon J. Toll. 
Cornelius Crawford. 
Nicholas Adams, 
David S. Bullock. 
Samuel Barr. 



Thomas Mullins. 
William G. (iraham. 
John Richards, 
George D. Allen. 
George V. Avery. 
George F. Bantz. 
John L. Barr. 
Dexter A. Buck. 
John Carr. 
Silas D. Crawford. 
George R. Carney. 
Orrin B. Crane. 
Marcus M. Chatfield. 
Thomas Coleman. 
John A. Coe. 
James C. Carr. 
James M. Devinney. 
Thomas Dooling. 
William Durling. 
John Ditch 
Lyman H. Evans. 
(George Flemming. 
Samuel B. Gates. 
Wm. H. Garland. 
Henry L. (irover. 
Heni-y Guth. 
George H. Harper. 
Wm. J. Haney. 
Reason B. Heddin. 

KNLISTMENTS AFTEU Ml.s' 

William H. Bray. 
John M. Chase. 
Thomas M. Ci-awford. 
Michael Cunningham. 
(Jeorge W. Dilley. 
Hughey L. Heinman. 



Jo.seph T. Foster. 1st Lieutenant. 
Wm. H. DeFreest. 2d Lieutenant. 

William Hug-hson. 
Harlow Kinney. 
James C. Kier, 
John M. D. Kelly. 
John Kelly, 
Henry K. Lowry. 
David D. Mills. 
Almond M. Mosher. 
.Squire Moni^oe. 
Richard Moore. 
Peter VV' . xMcDonnell. 
Luke Pierson. 
Charles G. Penniman. 
(ieorge Redfeai-n. 
Frank Robinson. 
Isaac Rhodes. 
Joseph H. Robertson. 
Elisha G. Stanley. 
Alexander Shields. 
Sylvester M. Scott, 
Howard E. Smith. 
Henry B. Stockwell. 
August Thomas. 
Frederick Thorn, 
William Will)er. 
Edwin M. Winters. 
Samuel Whipple. 
William H. H. West. 
Dwiglil Wheedon. 



IKK. 

S. H. McMasters, 
(Jeorge Rouse. 
John S. Stearns. 
Warren Williams. 
Oscar G. Williams. 
Benjamin F. Monroe. 



388 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 



COMPANY C. 
Levi Chase, Captain. Albert ¥. Dean, 2d Lieutenant. 

Benjamin Raney, 1st Lieutenant. Thomas Jones, 1st Lieutenant. 
Mathew Ronaldson, 2d Lieutenant. 



Samuel H. F. Wilson. 
William A. Clark. 
Wm. G. Harbaeh. 
("linton M. Turner. 
Oinen F. Lane. 
Elijah W. Majors, 
Benjamin S. Castle, 
.lames L. King. 
Otio S. Whiting-. 
Jackson Charter, 
Thos. J. R. Perry. 
Martin Moore, 
Andrew W. Wyman. 
John L. Baltzer. 
Edward L. Stone, 
(ieorge Patterson. 
Franklin Taylor. 
Jackson C'arter. 
Paul Hendricks, 
Sjimuel Chapman, 
(ieorge Hook. 
William Allen. 
James Ingersoll. 
rhomas Hutchinson. 
Edwin W. Deal. 
Oliver W. Cott'man. 
Samuel Albert on. 
F'ranklin Arrickson. 
Joseph Boltz 
(leorge liarr. 
.\lmond Bowman. 

MalcomI) S. Andrews 
Wilbert S. Andrews. 
Benjamin V. Barr. 
Wm". W. Bai-r, 
Wm. L. Brown. 
-Jno. S. B. Cog-ireshall 
Henry (Tearheart. 
Israel Henrv. 



I', (iad BryM,ii, Captain. 
James I). ,Jenks. Captain. 



Henry C. Blake, 
Benjamin A. Brewer. 
Albert C. Brice. 
Joseph Brees, 
Michael Boyer. 
Josiah Cameron, 
(ieorg'e H. Carey, 
John B. Cole, 
Simeon Cooley. 
Curtis M. Copp. 
Benjamin F. Clegg. 
James Corkwell. 
Joseph Clothier. 
Harvey J. Cling-field. 
Thaddeus J. Dean. 
Dipperman. Henry J. 
Franklin Drury. 
(leorge Delfelter. 
( 'harles C. Eastman. 
John M. Fife. 
Wm. A. Guardnei', 
Mathew C. (ilann. 
Isaac Hammond. 
Alex. T. Hamilton. 
Oeorg"e C. Hawkins. 
Porter W. Heni-y. 
Michael Higgins, 
Loyd Horner. 
John Hillery, 
Henry Jefferson. 
Luther B. Johnson. 

KNI^ISTMENTS AFTEK !\irs'l' 

Paul Hendricks. 
Wm. H. Hendricks. 
John L. Hill, 
John W. Kershner. 
Wm. O. S. Keaver. 
. Baseomb H. Kelly. 
Wm. Morgan. 
Richard F. Morgan. 

COMPANY D. 

Wm. R. Sh 
George M 



Thomas Jones, 
Rolla Kimball. 
Robert G. Laughlin. 
Nicholas Lacosta. 
Alfred J. Lither. 
Charles E. Madera. 
Samuel Marchant. 
Michael McCrary, 
William Morgan. 
S. Parkinson, 
Horace Payne. 
Charles Rankin. 
John Russell. 
John Simm.ons. 
George C. Sackett. 
Wm. H. Slocum. 
Wm. P. Shelton. 
Allen Stoddard. 
Wm. S. Steele, 
(4randville Stockman. 
Abraham Stutsman. 
Joseph O. Scanlon. 
Michael Seyb. 
James G. Unger. 
Rufus LTnderwood. 
(jeorge Vanbeek. 
Elijah G. Wilcox. 
Geo. L. Whitmarsh. 
Jacob R. Wolfe, 
Otis S. Whiting. 
Theodore Zingre. 

EK. 

Huston H. Ritchie. 
Wm. B. Smith, 
Nicholas Stover. 
John W. Voss. 
Samuel B. Welch. 
Thomas D. Wilson. 
Plinv Wilcox. 



rJames M. Bryan, 
Perry R. ( "rosswait. 
.\braham J. Reeves. 
Butler Bird. 
Jesse R. La.mliert. 



Jame^ (i. Rutter. 
Clarence S. Wilson. 
Henry Shaver, 
James K. McGinnis. 
-Jeremiah T. (iarrison, 



river. Ist Lieutenant. 
W^alker. 2d Lieutenant. 

Wm. Turk. 
Carlos E. Sampson. 
Hiram Metcalf. 
Wm. H. Newman. 
William B. Ramsev. 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 



3S9 



William H. Cross wait. 
Samuel E. Shannon. 
William Appleg-ate. 
John H. McMahon. 
John Hammon. 
David W. Griffith. 
John Harlow. 
Benjamin F. Griffitli. 
Everts S. Ewing, 
David D. Burnett. 
Amos H. McChn-e. 
Willet Carpenter. 
John T. Kendall. 
Milton Carter. 
Henry B. An Dyke. 
John Barlow. 
James H. Bird. 
David W. Burnett. 
James W. Black. 
Aaron Biggs. 
Thomas Black. 
Wm. W. Kerr, 



Elihu G. Barker. 
Samuel W. Conrad. 
William C. Carter, 
George H. Colville. 
Thomas M. Cleland. 
Cornelius Decker, 
Andrew J. Fransher. 
Andrew Foust. 
William (jraham. 
John W. (iraham. 
Isaac E. Groom. 
Anndrew J. Gilmore. 
Charles W. Hunt. 
H. E. Halterman 
Levi Hammon, 
James Howey. 
Peter Hill. 
Wm. W. Hicks. 
George Hollings worth. 
Milton Judkins. 
Francis M. Judkins. 



David H. Brown. 
Edward H. Brown. 
John M. Crinwell. 
John C. Delbridge. 
Samuel A. Flanders. 
Abel (iraham. 
Henry Hammon. 
Tilmau G. Harmon. 
Wm. L. Hornby. 
Albert Hutchinson, 
Tyra R. Hutchins. 
Henry C. Jeffries. 
Benjamin R. Johnsf)n 
Jonathan Judkins, 



ENLISTMENTS AFTER MUS 

John B. Judkins. 
Roswell W. Kelly, 
DeWitt C. Kelly' 
John Kirk. 
Thomas J. Lewis. 
Wm. (). Ludlow. 
Samuel J. McCauUey. 
James K. McCandless, 
Thomas McClean. 
Valentine Martin. 
William H. Magill. 
Charles T. Magill. 
, Samuel B. Palmer. 
James H. Palmer, 



Charles Lewis, 
William Lewis. 
AVm. O. Lee, 
Bayliss E. Lake, 
Charles C. Martin. 
William McCiee. 
Myron Maine. 
Hiram Metcalf, 
Jonathan Pettit, 
George Reed. 
James B. Rabbit. 
Jesse Slough. 
Wm. Shannon. 
Thomas T. Stradley. 
Jabez Snythebotham. 
Enoch Trimble. 
John J. Thompson. 
Harvey Thomas. 
John H. Williams. 
Thonips Williams. 
Wm. M. ^Vilson, 

PER. 

William A. Dickson. 
William Pursell. 
Joseph K. Reynolds. 
Andrew J. Rubles. 
Alanson W. Sage, 
Matthias R. Shaver. 
Geoi'ge W. Shaver. 
John W. Shaver. 
Jackson C. Smith. 
Edward Shufeldt. 
Mathew Wilkin. 
Wm. F. Whitmarsh, 
Chas. E, Whitmarsh, 



C^OMPANY E. 

William Thompson. Captain. Silas R. Nugen. 1st Lieutenant. 

Wm. P. McClure, 1st Lieutenant. Thos. A. Bereman. '2d Lieutenant. 
Sumner B. Marshall. 2d Lieutenant. 



William A. Coulter. 
Franklin D. Mailing. 
Joseph H. Blazer. 
Thomas J. Marsh. 
Cyrus H. Wills. 
Heni-y Warren, 
Wm. W. Fluke. 
Alex. F. Wildason, 
J. T. North. 
Christian Kauffman, 
Turner B. Winif, 



Arthur M. Cornwell. 
Charles B. Weller, 
(ieorge W. Vanorsdol. 
Elias Pricket. 
Henry T. Pownall. 
Clementine M. Bird, 
W. H. H. Ogan. 
John Thompson. 
Peter M. Redd. 
Joseph H. Arnold. 
Josiah Lees. 



Robert Baxter. 
William Hull. 
William C Hall. 
Nathaniel L. Ives. 

C. M. Snyder. 
John T. Brooks, 
(ieorge Ruel. 
Moses C. Chase. 

D. C. Bumbgardnei', 
(ieorge Acton. 
Theodore Biglei-, 



890 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 



T. B. Beam, 
Thomas Buck, 
F. M, Buck, 
Alexander Brown, 
A. B. Chatterton. 
J. A. Campbell, 
N. G. Chilcott, 
George F. Coata, 
William Cratty, 
W. R. Craig, 
F. H. Cole. 
Amasa Daily, 
John E. Fi-ank, 
H. H. Hess, 
[. N. Hall, 
T. J. Hancock, 
John W. Hardin, 
A. W. Hoffman, 



B. M. Heath erington, 

C. W. Howard, 
George E. Ives. 
Josiah James, 
W. H. Johnson, 
Zachariah Kinnett, 
Christian Kauffman. 
Jeremiah Kitchen. 
Orlando Kincaid, 
Cyrus L. Kincaid. 
Gad Lyman. 
Clarke Lynch. 
Martin Meredith, 
John McCormick. 
Joseph Masden. 

J. C. Oakes, 
W. B. Patton, 
John W. Hardin. 



Jacob Pfoutz, 
Joseph M. Potter, 
Jacob S. Probasco. 
George W. Ramsey. 
S. S. Sterling, 
E. M. Stapleton, 
Abi'aham Shippen, 
Samuel Thompson. 
John G. Van Voast. 
Oliver H. White. 
W. N. White. 
John C. Wilson. 
James Wilson, 
Ransom Walker. 
L. D. Wiggins, 
Cyrenus W^arren, 
George Worley. 
Nathaniel Ives. 



ENLISTMENTS AFTER JH'STEK. 



Elijah H. Bartlett. 
John W^. Baker, 
Wm. W. Barr. 
Emery Bennett. 
Thomas M. Beam. 
Wm. G. Blank. 
Henry H. Cratty. 
Carlisle Canterbury. 
Andrew J. Day. 
Wm. A. Davis, 
Mortimer B. Daniell, 
Chandler W. Ellsworth. 



W"m. F. Earhart, 
John W^. Fowler. 
William (jray, 
Samuel Grimes, 
Frederick P. Helphrey, 
(ieorge W. Hill, 
John E. Hipwell. 
Jacob Hulbert, 
Eugene W. Hall, 
Chai'les Jobes, 
Thomas J. Marsh. 
Daniel Helphrey. 



Wm. B. Miller. 
James Montgomei-y. 
Samuel J. Morgan, 
Aug. S. McCormick. 
Andrew Patterson. 
Upton S. Ramsey, 
Joseph B. Ramsey. 
John Smith. 
Fletcher M. Welptou. 
Harvey Wing. 
Jonathan Willford. 



COMPANY F. 

Philip E. Shafer. Caj^tain. 



James O. Gower, Captain. 

James R. Elliott. Captain. Charles Dustin, 1st Lieutenant. 

Jacob Hursh, 2d Lieutenant. 



Absalom J. Beeson. 
Charles W. W^. Dow. 
Martin L. Morris. 
David E. Morgan. 
N'elson H. Browner, 
Jacob L. Wyly, 
John J. Sanders. 
James H. McCord, 
William Hunter. 
William F. Hamilton. 
James C. Huskins. 
Henry W. Shaver. 
Thomas H. Hart. 
Marqviis G. Troup. 
William Tatman. 
James Convey, 
Thomas J. Brown. 
Frederick A. Druff, , 



Allison Bunker, 
Uberto E. Johnson. 
Stephen M. Sexton. 
Justin Ct. Patton, 
Carey R. Smith. 
Peter B. (J reaves. 
Shed rick M. Hines. 
Charles A. Barlow. 
John S. Baker. 
Enos H. Wilson. 
James W. Crawford. 
W^illiam McClure. 
William H. Hamilton, 
Thomas D. Morgan. 
James E. Wilson. 
Samuel C. Dickerson. 
James B. Doran. 
(ieorge I). Hanna. 



Samuel Mitchell. 
Richard L. Hoxie. 
Thomas Clarke. 
James J. Bell. 
John Smitz, 
Daniel Austin, 
Robert Allen, 
John S. Allen. 
Daniel D. Boyd, 
Wm. R. Bolding, 
John Bolton, 
Balthazar Bollinger. 
Wm. J. Bowen. 
W. H. H. Cunningham. 
John Corlett, 
James S. Catlin, 
John C. Gerrard, 
James C. Wilson. 



mSTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 



391 



John Hamilton, 
Heni-v C. Hamlin. 
Oliver P. Hull, 
(ieol'ge Hart, 
Ray S. Hart, 
Moses F. Johnson. 
e7ohn Kay, 
Max Klein, 
Joseph W. Latta. 



Stephen Baker. 
James C. Boston, 
Jesse Bunker, 
James L. Calvert. 
Warren H. Clark. 
Loren R. Craig. 
Alexander Doran, 
Berriman Easton. 
Thomas Ferrell. 
William (ieorge. 
Enoch Goodwin. 
Elisha Grey, 
Joseph G. Hise. 
Stephen Hook, 
(^yrus Housell. 
Chalmers Woodriiff. 



James W. McCormick, 
Charles Mayer, 
John Novinger, 
Albert Powers, 
Benjamin F. Parsons, 
Hildabert Perry, 
Bernard C. Reilly, 
John R.. Sumner, 
Cleophas Smelcer, 



Samuel Sewell, 
Maletius J. Simms, 
William E. Snodgrass. 
Oregan A. Stillings, 
Emory F. Stratton. 
Joseph C. Stone, 
Thos. A. Williamson. 
Isaiah P. Wilson. 



ENLISTMENTS AFTER MUSTER. 



A. Hollingsworth, 
Benj. HoUing-sworth, 
John C. Hunter, 
Henry P. Jones, 
Irving C. Jones. 
John H. Jobe. 
Ephraira Jobe, 
Thomas Kendall, 
James L. Mathews. 
George W. Mitchell. 
A. J. Montgomery. 
Joseph Moody, 
Charles McCoy, 
George McClure. 
David M. McCord. 
Thomas Reed, 

COMPANY G. 



Corydon L. Nurse. 
Bryan O'Connor. 
Alonzo Owen, 
Russell Park, 
Abraham Palmer 
Wm. Powers, 
Thomas M. Priddy. 
George W. Reilly. 
Wm. H. Smith. ' 
Alpheus Titus. 
Charles H. Thompson. 
Samuel Van Norman. 
Ira Williams. 
John D. Wilson. 
Josiah Wilson. 



James D. Thompson. Captain. Herman H. Heath. 1st Lieutenant. 

.John McDermott. Caiitain. P^lkanah S. Foster. 1st Lieutenant. 

Soloinon Smith, "id Lieutenant. 



James M. Simeral. 
Horace Barron. 
W^m. W. Babcock. 
Orlo W. Uunton, 
Silas N. Palmer. 
Alfred A. Alline. 
Harris Hoover. 
Isaac Soule. 
(ieo. W. Walton, 
(ieorge R. Bos well. 
James Hervey. 
Albert W. Hosford, 
James W. McDermott. 
Lawrence Schoonover, 
Joshua D. Myers. 
John Q. Hanna. 
Samuel M. Hoff. 
Victor Gilbert. 
Samuel A. Rice. 
Samuel D. Drake. 
Arthur F. Rudolph. 
Jason Robinson. 



George W. Camp. 
Joel (j. Lounsberry. 
Daniel R. Hopper. 
James H. Stewart, 
Hiram J. Dunwell. 
Joseph C. Ervin. 
Michael O. Sullivan. 
Purdy M. Byerly, 
Thomas Mulford, 
Charles A. Adams. 
John Armitage, 
F^dward Bronson. 
James W. Beecroft. 
James C. Boston, 
Edward J. Brown. 
Levi Cassleman, 
Hugh C. Connell, 
Suell Dodge, 
Thomas B. Drake. 
(Jeorgc H. Dubois. 
George Deetrick. 
Luther W. Sanderson. 



Allen Fowkes, 
William B. Fish. 
Stanton Fanning. 
Robert (iartley. 
Mathew (4ant. 
Thomas S. Heller. 
Alonzo L. Hurd. 
Wm. D. Johnson. 
Augustus J. Kintz. 
Ernst A. Klingenberg. 
John W. Krapfel. 
Alexander Larkey. 
Theodore LcBarr. 
Joshua I). Myers. 
John Murphy. 
James McDermott. 
Nathaniel Mc(\n'ren. 
Jack INIonroe, 
Ario Morgan. 
Robert G. Needels. 
Stephen G. Rice. 
Joseph A. Turner. 



892 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 



Otto Rothlander, 
N. B. Rosenberry, 
Frank F. Sanderson. 
Elon J. Skinner. 
David W. Scott. 



Louis Scherrer. 
James H. Stewart. 
Edwin J. Smith, 
Henry Schertz, 
James L. Stone. 



Frank Talty. 
W. W. Timmins, 
Silas W. Trenchard. 
J. F. Emberg, 
Edmund L. Wells. 



Charles M. Simmons, John B. Stevenson. 



ENLISTMENTS AFTER MUSTER. 



Jeremiah Bivins, 
Marshall D. Carpenter. 
Daniel K. Cobb, 
Wilson Clark, 
John F. Clark. 
Oscar J. Daniels, 
Levi S. Drinkwalter. 
Frederick B. Dora. 
George Ellsworth. 
John M. Furman. 
John Gebhart, 
Henry Gregory. 
James H. Hadley. 
Howard Hall, 
Albert S. Hurd, 



John Kirk, 
Charles H. Kibbee. 
George W. Carr. 
E. L. Clinkenbeard. 
John M. Crinwell, 
Edward Lauderdale. 
Lester Coe, 
Earl K. McMillen. 
Rasmus Marshall. 
Thomas Mullins. 
Charles H. Porter, 
('ornelius Pocock. 
George P. Ranslow, 
Samviel A. Rose. 
Nelson Slaiken. 



John W. Smith, 
Lacy M. Simmons. 
Benjamin F. Skinner. 
F. H. Severance, 
Henry C. Skinner, 
Henry P. Tayton, 
Jno. L. B. Thompson. 
Palmer B. Turner. 
John Vest, 
Eli Waring, 
John Wheeler, 
John H. Williams, 
Jerome B. Wentworth. 
Christopher C. Wilson. 
John M. Younff. 



Daniel Anderson, Captain. 
Riley Westcoatt. Captain. 



COMPANY H. 

Wm. S. Whisenand, 1st Lieutenant. 
Albert U. McCormick, 2d Lieut. 



Samuel T. Craig. 
Edwin R. Rockwell. 
Allen W. Knight. 
George Sturges, 
David K. Webster. 
Daniel I. Leffler, 
William H. Harris. 
Josephus Hays. 
John B. Matson. 
Henry L. DashielJ. 
Daniel Easley, Jr.. 
<leorge W. Hartman. 
John S. Birkhead, 
Isaac S. Jones, 
James H. Cowan. 
Aaron G. Chambers. 
James R. Castle. 
James H. McCoy. 
Chalres M. Williams, 
(Jeorge M. Mark. 
Harlow G. Bates. 
Xathan (Gilbert. 
Blair Reitzell, 
David C. Ken worthy, 
William Shartom, 
Samuel J. Hunt, 
Israel Shepherd, 
(ieorge Sturges, 



Benjamin Shuman, 
William O. Pannenter, 
John Dull, 
Henry Wood, 
William H. Adams. 
Isaac S. Jones. 
Silas Adams, 
James C. Allen, 
Joseph S. Bates. 
Sterling S. Bates, 
Abraham A, Babb, 
Washington Bernard. 
Francis P. Birkhall. 
David H. Bristow. 
Franklin Barton. 
Nathan A. Carroll. 
David Carnes. 
James H. Cowan. 
William H. Cowan. 
James Craig, 
Stephen Crause. 
John Dull. 
Thomas H. Dull. 
Chilon Dixon, 
Thomas H. Elder. 
Thomas F. Fauts. 
Robert Sinclair, 
Wm, H. Spurgin. 



James H. Furman, 
Benjamin F. Gates. 
Heni-y C. Gilbert. 
Thomas Grey, 
Andrew J. Harrison. 
Isaac Hartsuck, 
Lafayette Harris, 
Walter S. Handley. 
Josephus Hays. 
Charles H. Holmes. 
Allen W. Knight, 
Richard S. Knight. 
Wm. B. Kendall. 
Alexander M. Leffler. 
David I. Leffler. 
Cornelius O. Leary. 
James Mark, 
Edwin H. Maydole. 
Henry M, Miller, 
William Mann, 
Dyas Neill. 
Jacob B. Roades. 
David W. Scott. 
John Snook, 
Martin W. Sullivan. 
Luman Storey. 
Robert W. Tuttle. 
Sidney Wells. 



HISTORY OF FIKST IOWA CAVALRY. 



393 



ENLISTMENTS AFTER MISTEK. 



Lawson Carlton. 
Daniel M. Elder. 
Charles A. Emery, 
Levi K. Frenier. 
Daniel H. Furman. 
Allen K. George. 
John (Gilbert. 
Albert (iilbert. 
Vincent M. (xuinn, 
John Hampton, 
Albert T. Hart, 
Lvidwigf B. Hazard. 



Ozro Harrington. 
Adam R. Hartzell, 
Phineas Judson. 
Henry E. Johnston. 
Sylvanus M. Kester. 
Henry H. Jefferson. 
David Hodges. 
Wm. T. Maxwell. 
Thomas A. Matson. 
Clifford W. Mason. 
John McDowell. 
Zachariah P. Murry. 



Nelson M. Maydole, 
Henry Osborn. 
Frederick H. Purinton. 
Abram Renison. 
John F. B. Searcy. 
Joseph L. Staggers, 
Andrew J. Smith. 
George C. Thompson, 
Joseph B. Teas, 
Charles M. Williams. 
David F. White, 



COMPANY I. 



Joseph W. Caldwell, Captain, 
David C. Dinsmore, Captain. 



Amos Dilley, 1st Lieutenant. 
Wm. H. Kitterman, 2d Lieutenant. 



Benj. W. Searle, 
Joseph H. Springer. 
Benjamin F. Ci'ocker. 
Samuel Walker. 
Samuel R. Hoyne. 
Hiel A. Travis. 
William B. Brim. 
Wm. Rake, 
Thomas P. Moore, 
Samuel Street, 
Thomas J. Myers, 
Robert L. Donnell. 
Mathew Hawk, 
Hiram Holler, 
Wm. Davis, 
Andrew J. Chapman. 
Wm. S. Rentfro. 
Tyrus Horton. 
Moses Miller. 
Hosea F. Lotspiech, 
David C. Bottdorf, 
Edward F. Parish, 
Ross B. Stevens. 
Alexander H. Barnett. 
John M. Macklin, 
Wm. T. J^each, 



Noah W. Briles. 
John M. Boster, 
Theodore Y. Creamer. 
Milton S. Clark. 
Thomas Clark. 
William Clark. 
Edwin M. Church. 
Samuel H. Donnell. 
George W. Dalton. 
John A. Davis, 
Thomas G. Davis, 
Alfred J. Gillespie. 
Leander N. Godfrey. 
James I. Hampton. 
Ezra Hawk. 
W^ashington Hawk. 
Jack.son Hendrickson. 
James W. Jacobs, 
Andi'ew J. Johnson. 
C. Johnson. 
James Kelly. 
Samuel M. Lindsey. 
John A. Landis. 
Harrison C. Lynn. 
John J. Leach. 
Melvin L Williams. 



Charles H. McFarling. 
Wm. A. Malonee, 
James McGuire, 
Thomas T. Myers. 
Wm. N. Monroe. 
George W. Priest. 
Wilber N. Ping. 
Zephaniah Powell, 
Alonzo Parish. 
Wm. Petree. 
Anson B. Phelps. 
George W. Rousel, 
Martin Raser, 
Dexter Stevens. 
John Shreeve, 
Wm. J. Smock, 
Lewis Smith, 
Samuel T. Sisson, 
(Teorge W. Sylvestei-. 
Thomas Y. Smith, 
Jasper M. Thompson. 
Cornelius Thom])son. 
Henry C. Uhler. 
Henry T. Wilson. 
Nelson Williams, 
John A. Young. 



John \j. Bauder. 
Wm. K. Bottorff, 
Gottlieb BoUin, 
Robert P. Caldwell. 
Albert Curtis. 
Francis Daly. 
John A. Donnell, 
Oliver H. Donnell, 
John W. Madison. 
f)0 



ENLISTMENTS AFTER MU.STER. 

Jonathan E. Dodge, Henrv C. Horlon. 



George W. Dickens. 
Daniel A. Elliott. 
Henry T. Edwards. 
Wm. D. Earle. 
Thomas Ferrell, 
Elijah A. Godfrey. 
Joseph C. Harris, 
Robert T. Newell. 



Andrew Hawk. 
Stephen Hook, 
Cornelius S. John.son. 
John H. Jobe, 
Ephraim P. Jobe. 
Edwin Lake. 
Wm. D. Mallonee. 
Wm. E. Street, 



394 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 



Wm. McAuley. James H. Phelps. 

Samuel T. McCune, Peru. J. B. Ping, 
Samuel J. McCauley. Wm. Rufee, 



Ed. C. Thompson. 
Wm. W. Williams, 
Wm. Van Hoosen. 



(X:)MPANY K. 

Robert L. Freeman, Captain. Thomas H. Barnes. 1st Lievitenant. 



Albert L. Freeman, 2d Lieutenant. 



Hiram H. Sowles. 
Wm. H. Muzzy. 
John L. Paxson. 
Charles Dubois. 
James H. Lyon, 
Joel Smith, 
Chas. F. Keeler. 
Geo. E. Dayton. 
James Russell, 
Oscar Moore, 
Peter Claussen, 
Seth Martin. 
John Fitzsimmons. 
Warren B. Herriman. 
Georg-e S. Scott, 
Wm. H. Tinkhara. 
Albert R. Field, 
John F. Baker, 
Solomon (Goodrich. 
Wm. H. Kelley. 
Lewis Keene, 
Josei^h Stone, 
Samuel Wrig-ht. 
Charles C'arrier. 
Melvin E. Mann. 
James Chambers. 
James Phelan. 
Geo. H. McClaskey, 
Edward Harmon. 
Samuel Stillions. 

Charles Anderson. 
John A. Bailey. 
Charles G. Carpenter. 
Ebenezer E. Collins. 
Daniel D. Cheadle. 
Palmer Dobson. 
Barron Edwards. 
Benj. A. Fay, 
Robert E. (iranger. 
Morris Granger, 
John L. Gardner. 
Thomas Hartin. 



Allison Adams, 
John F. Arnold, 
Charles Atwood, 
David A. Allsbaugh, 
Loyal E. Ballou, 
Wm. P. Bowers. 
Benton Bowman. 
Andris Brant, 
Richard W. Brown. 
Moses A. Bollman, 
James Bolton, 
John Borden, 
Christian F. Beyer, 
Edward G. Bricker. 
Michael Casey, 
James Chambers. 
Abner J. Case. 
Oscar Crumb, 
"^A^alter W. Carpenter. 
Peter Chambers, 
John B. Christ, 
Henry Clark. 
Erdix S. Eastman, 
Albert H. Fairchilds. 
Alexander Gi-aham, 
Charles A. Granger. 
John (raytas. 
Archibald Green, 
Samuel Wright. 



Wm. Q. Howorth. 
John L. Howorth, 
Samuel Jameson, 
John G. Kidder, 
Jason W. Kinsley. 
Albert R. Lyon, 
Alexander McClaskey. 
David M. M inert, 
James R. McGeorge. 
Archibald McArthur. 
Erastus Morgan. 
Vincent Orcutt. 
Daniel C Oswauld. 
Oscar Powers, 
Chaiies T. Prescott. 
John L. Paxson. 
John S. Post, 
Samuel Stephenson, 
Wm. E. Saucer. 
Allen Sharp, 
John W, Sylvester. 
Edward Sliter. 
John Sheeley. 
James Shipper. 
George Weikel. 
Harrison Wolf. 
Wm. H. Walker. 
James Wood. 
James Whitfor-d. 



KNLLSTMENTS AFTEH Ml'.STEK. 



Samuel Harris, 
Edwin W. Hurlbut, 
Henry M. Jones. 
David P. Jennings. 
(George W. Kelley. 
Anthony Kelley. 
(ieorge Lewis. 
Alexander Meadows. 
Francis McMullin. 
(jeorge Oathout. 
Frank Pease. 



Orrin A. Phillips. 
Benj. B. Rathburne. 
I^ewis Reid, 
(Tcorge W. Smith. 
John M. Truman. 
Orson Trowbridge. 
Thomas J. Tupper. 
Lewis Virden, 
Francis Watson, 
Joseph Warner, 
Alfred Wells. 



COMPANY L. 

Herman H. Heath. Captain. David C. Mclntyre. 1st Lieutenant. 

James iVL Simeral. ^d Lieutenant. 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 



395 



Henry B. Quick. 
Warren Y. Reeves. 
Hiram A. Park. 
John Rodgers. 
James V. Brown, 
John L. Anderson. 
Horace J. Leonard. 
James M. Kerr. 
Hubbard A. (). Blacken. 
Charles E. Miller. 
John M. Enochs. 
John B. Aiken. 
Nicholas Morris, 
Denis Funcheon. 
Frederick Hazleton. 
Herbert L. Mills. 
William C. Bell. 
William Slade. 
Christian F. Beyer. 
William McGinley. 
Daniel C. McKillip. 
Ernest Hall, 
Thompson F. Blair. 
John H. Davis. 
Reuben Barnes. 
Frederick E. W^eik. 
William J. Bowinan. 
Joseph McClay. 
Thomas Schadt. 
Hilon H. Mead. 
Herman Bray. 
Lorenzo Martin. 
Thomas McEl worth. 



Alexander Barnes. 
Franklin Burnett. 
John Bochrolein. 
Mai-tin S. Cisco. 
James A. Cisco. 
Charles A. Chase. 
George H. Davis. 
John B. P. Dodd. 
Andrew Doosher. 
Chas. H. Edgecomb. 
Wm. W. Foot, 
'Edgar P. Mills, 



Albert C. Alford, 
James P. Ayrault, 
Caleb C. Botwood. 
August Brulot, 
William Barnard, 
Milton Brown, 
James V. Brown. 
Stephen P. Carnahan. 
Joseph Casinet, 
Michael J. Driscall, 
Garrett Dodd, 
Collins G. Esson. 
Charles D. Esson. 
James Fitzpatrick. 
Peter Ginden, 
Wm. 8. Guthrie. 
Wm. H. Gunn, 
George Hellman. 
Sylvester Hall. 
George Harrington, 
Raphael G. Hall. 
Wm. H, Hendebruck, 
William Jenkins. 
Martin Jourdan. 
Ste})hen Keyes. 
Louis l^a France. 
Stephen Lawyer. 
C'harles McMyer. 
Andrew Miller. 
Wm. Martin. 
Zebulon Morris. 
Nicholas Morris, 
Warren Y. Merchant. 



ENLISTMENTS AFTER Ml'.ST 

David Jack. 
p]dward R. Jones. 
Otto Anton Laurie. 
Harrison F. Lambkin. 
Gottleib Lange. 
Martin Lillie, 
Martin i.,orenz(), 
(ieorge Lewis, 
(ieorge W. Heath. 
Daniel W. Mason. 
L. B. Manwaring. 
Thomas Flemming. 



Hardin W. Nowlin. 
James T. Nowlin. 
Stephen H, Pierce, 
Nicholas Portz. 
John Portz. 
John L, Quick, 
John S. Rogers, 
John T, Rodgers. 
Alanson C. Robinson. 
James E. Rice. 
James J. Reed. 
Jop.b Somers, 
Adolph Sommer's. 
James Sprague. 
Chas. Stewart. 
Clark L Sherwood. 
Ira C. Scott. 
Mathew H. Scott. 
John Shuster, 
Samuel H. Sherman. 
Levi Shultz. 
Samuel Tate, 
George P. I'urner. 
Wm, Taylor, 
Francis Tienan, 
Joseph Tienan, 
(ieorge Venn. 
John Wenger. 
Jonathan White. 
Peter Walter. 
John Wise. 
John W. Wall. 
John Wilcox. 

Milton Lillie. 
James Noble. 
Henry C, Potter, 
Geo. ]j. Richardson. 
Clark M. Slade. 
Thomas Sahadt. 
Joshua Seward. 
John W, Sylvester, 
PUny H, Tucker, 
Abraham \A'aldron, 
Frederick C, Werk. 
Nut. A\'. Wt'liver. 



(X)MPANY M, 

Wm. H, Ankeny. Ca])tain. Jajnes Crissy, 1st Lieutenant. 

James P. Crosby. Cai)1ain. Edward A, Dunham, 1st Lieut. 

Solomon Townsend. 2d Lieutenant. 



Charles A. Case. 
(ieorge McDowall. 



Wm. H, Mathews, 
Noah Boon, 



Marijuis 1), Lillie, 
Henry I.,and3chooft. 



396 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 



Alan son D. Gaston. 
Alanson H. Darwin. 
Charles E. Cook. 
Daniel M. Shureman. 
Clark Hodges, 
John M. Hoops. 
Edward Ware, 
(ieorg-e W. Rice. 
George T. Nettle. 
W. I. Walling. 
Peter Barr. 
Patrick H. Burke. 
Theodore Xissen. 
Henrich Klappiu. 
William H. Todd. 
.Josiah Gorham, 
Wm. N. Pendleton. 
Ward W. Hills. 
VV^illiana O. (Tulick. 
Joseph Moody, 
Daniel Dean. 
Edward P. Iden. 
DeWitt C. Brownson. 
Nathan W. Ballard. 
Thomas E. Francis. 
Nathan Gordon. 



Charles Barrows. 
James F. Bunce. 
Samuel B. Cory. 
W^m. H. Cavender. 
James Clark. 
Wm. G. Cummings. 
Milo D. Crawford. 
(^hristo])her Deitman. 
Miron Dean. 
John Douglas. 
Francis A. Dory. 
Thomas Gammel. 
W. B. Goodall. 



Noble H. Brown. 
Henry Bennett. 
Joseph Boyd. 
Loyal A. Baxter. 
Missell Ballard. 
David Carr. 
Horace C. Cure, 
Jerome L. Church. 
Lewis E. Dean, 
Hans E. Diriks. 
Wm. H. Davidson. 
James Decker. 
Patrick Duflfy. 
John C. Einwechter. 
Joseph Fohn. 
Thomas George. 
Josiah (jorham. 
Paschal (jardner. 
Charles Hibber. 
Hiram Hill. 
Wm. W. Hathaway. 
Reuben Hubbell. 
Mai-tin Jordan. 
Samuel A. Johnson. 
Richard M. Johnson. 
Sylvester K. Lake. 

^ENLISTMENTS AFTER MI 

Melville Green. 
Thomas C. Elce. 
Nelson P. Hill, 
Nicholas Hoist, 
W. H. Hunting, 
John T. Husband, 
Martin T. Hesler. 
Ed. B. Hines, 
Jeremiah Kilmei-, 
John W. Makinson. 
Eugene T. Mullen, 
Abraham Murray. 
George McClintock. 



Joseph McClay. 
John McDonald, 
Jacob McDonald, 
James McCormick, 
Marshall McKnight. 
Richard E. Miner, 
Charles J. Osgood. 
William C. Potts. 
Washington H. Rigby. 
Elisha A. Roland. 
James F. Randolph. 
Henry K. Robinson. 
Joseph Stamper. 
George Sears. 
John Stewart. 
Richard Smith. 
George Thompson. 
Fritz Thode. 
John Tietjens. 
Alfred C. Taylor, 
John S. Vosburgh, 
Josepth Wirth. 
Frederick R. Wilkes. 
Louis Warren, 
Christian W. Wilson. 
William S. Young. 

ISTER. 

George A. Nelson, 
George Pennington, 
Henry Robei'ts, 
Hans Rohwedder. 
John B. Stocking. 
Duncan T. Stocking. 
Jacob Stephenson. 
Henry J. Stoops, 
George W. Stoops. 
Jerry Tietzgen. 
Wm. H. Todd. 
Jacob V. Van Ney-s. 
Jurgen Willis. 



ADDITIONAL ENLISTMENTS. 



Moses H. Amend, 
Robert B. Baker, 
N. W. Barr. 
Sylvanus C. Bascom. 
Levi Hendricks. 
H. H, Hutchins, 
Joseph Jackson, 
Benjamin F. Leach, 
John Leacy, 



UNASSIGNED. 

Aaron Babcock. 
John Cooper. 
Warren H. Chase. 
Ephraim J. Davis. 
Benj. T, Monroe. 
John B. McClelland. 
Jerod C. Palmer. 
Wm. H. Reily. 
Robert Rundell. 



James Flanagan, 
Wm. W. Golcher. 
Wm. H. Grater. 
Albert Greeley. 
George Remmington. 
Americus C. Smith. 
R. A. Williams. 
John A. Wallace. 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 



:^97 



1863. 
FIELD AND STAFF. 



Daniel Anderson, Colonel. 
Job. W. Caldwell, Lieut. (Jolonel. 
].,evi Chase, Major. 
William Thompson, Major. 
Alexander G. McQueen, Majoi-. 

LINE ( 
Robt. M. Reynolds, Capt. (Jo. A. 
John R. Marshall, 1st Lt. Co. A. 
John L. Russell, 2d Lt. Co. A. 
Samuel S. Burdett, Capt. Co. B. 
Joseph T. Foster, 1st Lt. Co. B. 
Wm. H. DeFreest. 2d Lt. Co. B. 
Thomas Jones, Capt. (vO. C. 
Mathew Ronaldson, 1st Lt. Co. C. 
William A. Clark, 2d Lt. Co. C. 
James D. Jenks, ("apt. Co. D. 
William H. Shriver. 1st Lt. Co. D 
(ieovge M. Walker, 2d Lt. Co. D. 
Thomas A. Bereman, Capt. Co. E. 
Silas R. Nug-en. 1st Lt. Co. E. 
Sumner B. Marshall, 2d Lt. (,'o. E 
Charles Dustin. Capt. Co. F. 
Jacob Hursh, 1st Lt. Co. F. 
Charles W. W. Dow. 2d Lt. Co. F. 



Milton B. Cochran. Surg-eon. 
Charles H. Lothrop, Asst. Surgeon. 
John A. Donnell. Adjutant. 
(Jlaus Henry Albers, Quartermaster. 
Henry L. Dashiel. Commissary. 



(i. 

H. 
H. 



)FFICERS. 

John McDermott, Capt. Co. (i 

Elkanah S. Foster. IstLt. (Jo. 

Solomon Smith. 2d Lt. Co. G. 

Wm. S. Whisenand, Capt. Co. 

A. U. McCormick. 1st Lt. Co. 

Samuel T. (Jraig-. 2d Lt. Co. H. 

David C. Dinsmore. Capt. Co. I. 

Amos Dilley, 1st Lieut. Co. L 

Wm. H. Kitterman, 2d Lt. Co. L 

Robt. L. Freeman, Capt. ('o. K. 
. Thos. H. Barnes, 1st Lt. Co. K. 

Charles F. Keeler. 2d Lt. Co. K. 

David C. Mclntyre. Capt. Co. L. 

James M. Simeral, 1st Lt. Co. L. 
. Warren G. Reeves, 2d Lt. Co. L. 

James P. (Jrosby, Capt. Co. M. 

Edward A. Dunham, 1st Lt. Co. M. 

Solomon Townsend. 2d Lt. T'o. M. 



ADDITK^NAL ENLISTMENTS. 

COMPANY A. 

Abraham Wilson. Andrew J. Wright. 

COMPANY B. 

William Casley. William H, Sutton. 



Callender Lee. 



Henry ( '. Davis. 
James M. Shannon. 

Hiram Davis, 
Milton M. Ford. 
David Gregory. 

Charles Bessev, 
R. W. Bodell/ 

James Ayers, 
Harry S. Bradfield. 
Wm. H. Baker, 
Stephen Burke. 



COMPANY C. 

Charles M. Martin. 

COMPANY D. 

William Lewis. 

(JOMPANY E. 

(). C. Limbocber, 
John R. Martin, 
Henry C. Pike, 

COMPANY r. 
John Cooper, 

COMPANY G. 

Jonathan Penn, 
Charles Penn. 
(Jeorge Phillip.s. 
t'harles R. Paris, 



Renssalaer Metcalf. 



Thomas E. Patterson, 
J. H. Rhodes. 



William Ramsey. 



Wm. O. Sales, 
Willis Smith, 
Joseph Sharer. 
Thomas J. Vest. 



398 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 



John Bessey. 
Daniel H. Doan. 
W. K. p]ggleston, 
R. M. Higginbotham, 
Win. J. MeCall. 

(leorge Reynolds. 

Wilson K. Bottorff. 
elohn S. Braden. 

Henry Colley. 
John Clrawford. 
George W. Ehlers. 
Edward Hyde. 
William Logan. 

Amos Andrews. 
Caleb Burns, 
Andrew Brownson. 
Hiram G. Balckan. 
James Davis. 
Peter (iifford. 
Spencer Holmes. 
Ben. H. Hall. 
Silas E. Hennegan 
Ralph Hennegan. 

A. D. Allen, 
John Brown, 
Augustus Bittner, 
Herbert L. Barry, 
Rufus Bunce, 
Henry N. Cummings. 
Lander FoUetts, 
William Her, 

Charles L. Averill. 



Loren T. Bush, 
Henry P. Brooks, 
Jerome Carpenter, 
John H. Clark, 
Charles Chickering. 
Charles H. Corey. 
Wm. S. Cutler, 
J. W. Chamberlin. 
John Campbell. 
Whitman Corey, 
Jonathan Corey, 
Noah Cramer, 



Josiah Piatt, 
Wm, H. Rumburgh, 
John B. Roberts. 
Samuel W. Ross. 
George W. Speers, 

COMPANY H. 
COMPANY I. 

Joseph C. Harris, 
Wm. E. Street, 

COMPANY K. 

Cornelius L. Miller. 
Foster Nilson, 
John Peeper. 
John Plain, 
Jacob Riter, 

COMPANY L. 

Henry Hapsey, 
Simon W. Hardin. 
David H. King. 
Francis Lawrence, 
Samuel H. Messenger, 
Warren L. Mallory, 
Wm. Miller, 
Geo. M. Winklev, 
Geo. W. Nellis. ' 

COMPANY M. 

Otis F. Johnson. 
Thompson Lewis. 
David Asher Ladd. 
John J. Miller, 
Arthur G. Merriman, 
Joseph L. McCann, 
Thomas W. Melody. 

COMPANIES UNKNOWN. 

Alvan C. Blood. 

UNASSIGNED. 

Calvin L. Dutcher, 
Edward P. Douglass. 
Philip Dailey, 
James E. Elliott. 
Royal P. Faris. 
John B. Foster. 
Samuel Fry. 
James Fodge, 
Henry Grayson. 
Alvah Granthon. 
James Gorham, 
Green W, Gable, 



Sylvester P. Willis, 
Geo. W. Wheeler. 
James AV right. 
Robert L Young. 



Edw. C. Thompson. 
William W. Williams. 



George Robinson. 
Charles Roenish, 
L. Schaninghausen, 
Wm. Servose. 
Orville B. Tiffany. 

Chas. (t. Newell, 
Wm. H. Ramsey, 
David Swartzell, 
Ernst Seidel, 
James F. .Washburn. 
James A. Walton, 
Albert E. (A.) Watson. 
Wm, I. Washburn, 
Wm, T, Wallace, 



Solomon Rufe, 
Asa W. Rose, 
Henry Samuels, 
Martin Stebbins, 
Franklin Strickland, 
Hiram M, Thurston, 
Charles M. Wheelock. 



Rudolph Hoffman, 
Joseph L. Hall, 
Nelson Holding, 
Joseph C. Hewitt. 
(Jeorge W. Hardin. 
Ellis Hiatt, 
Samuel H, Howe, 
Daniel H. Hughes. 
John Henkle. 
James K. Hotchkiss. 
Samuel C. Hines, 
Henry L. Hopkins, 



HISTORY OB' FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 



31M> 



Doddridge W. Cook. 
Thomas Clark, 
James Davidson. 
Marion John, 
('harles Johnson. 
W. Klingaman, 
(ieorg-e H. Kingsbury, 
James B. Kempton, 
(ieorge W. Kempton. 
Seth T. Kempton, 
Peter Knowlen, 
C. H. Jjeffingwell. 
Anderson Lister. 
John A. Long. 
John H. Lea. 
Charles McKibbon. 
Jacob H. Munson. 
Tobias May, 
Henry Mitchell. 
Charles G. P. Myers. 
Edward H. Messenger. 
John C. Murphy. 
John W. Morris. 
James E. McCalvan. 
Martin C. Morris. 
John L. McClelland. 



Wm. H. Gardner, 
Edward Howard, 
Benjamin Huestiss, 
Alphonso W. Myers, 
James McAlavey, 
Alvin S. Murray, 
William McGuire. 
Benjamin F. Martin. 
George W. McCoy. 
Marcus J. Pennock. 
Solomon E. Peak, 
Amos Prindle, 
Malachi Perry, 
John M. Pitzer, 
Fi'anklin Prentice, 
Elijah J. Preston. 
Newell P. Quimtay. 
(Charles W. Roberts. 
John R. Ross, 
George W. Royster. 
John A. Roberts. 
Benjamin Roberts. 
Perry Roberts, 
Ira J. Robertson, 
Leonard W. Rhoade? 
Simeon Strong. 



Morton Hayes, 
John H. Jurney. 
Thomas Jones, 
Wm. F. Stewart, 
Henry C. Stewart, 
Martin V. Sherrard. 
Nicholas Swingle, 
Joseph Stenger. 
John D, Sunderland. 
Wm. H. Stewart, 
James H. Stewart, 
Newton Sanders, 
David Sherrard. 
Willis C. Smith, 
Wm. (i. Tate, 
Arthur B. Thomas, 
John ('. Tiffany. 
John Upton, 
Wm. AV. Wright. 
Fletcher J. Walker, 
George H. Watson, 
Owen Wilkins, 
Ishmael Wilson, 
James Wining, 
Evan W. Williams. 



VETERAN RE-ENLISTMENTS. 

ISH-i. 

COMPANY A. 

Robert M. Reynolds. Captain. John R. Marshall. 1st Lieutenant. 



John L. Russell, 2d Lieutenant. 



Alexander P. Boyce, 
James P. Turner, 
Joseph C. McCandless. 
Thomas J. O' Bleness. 
Henry L. Morrill. 
John L. Russell. 
Thomas Reynolds. 
John Wright. 
John Smith. 
George Reafia. 
Harvey Adair. 
Benjamin Blair. 
William W. Blair. 
William O. Burns. 
David Conley. 
William H. Carey, 



Owen P. Gore, 
Williamson H. Fortune 
John A. Herwick, 
Henry L. Hoagland. 
Thomas S. James. 
William Linn, 
Charles H. Lyons, 
Michael Malone. 
James McCutcheon, 
George McKee, 
George R. Miller. 
Charles E. Moss. 
Nelse P. Nelson, 
Andrew O'Bleness. 
Eli R. Oiler. 
Alexander Osborn, 



Samuel Pore, 
William Pore, 
Elmore Reed, 
Daniel Riebold. 
Anglos F. Sala. 
Orlando P. Sala. 
William Scheyli. 
James Scott. 
Moses C. Short, 
James Smith. 
Harrison T. Wilson. 
Andrew J. Wilson. 
Abraham Wilson. 
(4eorge W. Welchymer, 
Andrew J. Wright. 
William Wyatt. 



I 



400 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 



Samuel S. Burdett. C 

Henry P. Shifter, 
Hiram S. Heberling. 
John K. McKeen. 
George D. Allen, 
George V. Avery, 
Nicholas Adams, 
Philip H. Bray. 
Samuel Barr, 
David S. Bvillock, 
George R. Carney. 
Orrin B. Crane. 



COMPANY B. 

aptain. Joseph T. 

Marcus M. Chatfield, 
John M. Chase, 
Michael Cunningham. 
John A. Ditch, 
Thomas Doolin, 
William H. Durling. 
George W. Dilley. 
Lyman H. Evans. 
Wm. W. Gardner. 
Isaac Gulick. 
Henry L. Grover. 



Foster. Ist Lieutenant. 

Wm. H. Garland, 
Reason B. Hedden. 
William H. Hughson. 
James Lister. 
Job G. Morton, 
Squire L. Monroe. 
Peter W. McDonald. 
George Readfern. 
George Rouse. 
Ezra L Smith. 
Oscar G. Williams. 



COMPANY C. 

Thomas Jonets. Captain. Mathew Ronaldson. 1st Lieutenant. 

William A. Clark. 2d Lieutenant. 



Thomas R. Perry. 
Edward L. Stone. 
Clinton M. Turner. 
Frederick Oren Lane. 
Paul Hendricks. 
Martin M. Moore. 
George VanBeek, 
Michael Seyle, 
Thomas Hutchinson. 
Curtis M. Copp. 
William P. Allen. 
Malcomb S. Andrews. 
John L. Baltzer, 
Michael Boyer. 



Wm. L. Brown. 
Alexander C Brice. 
George H. Carey. 
James Corkwell. 
Joseph Clothier. 
Harvey J. Clingenpeel. 
George Delfelter. 
Henry J. Depperman. 
Wm. A. Gardner. 
Henry Gearhart. 
John"L. Hill. 
Wm. H. Hendricks. 
Rolla Kimball. 
John W. Kerchner. 

COMPANY D. 



Nicholas LaCosta. 
Charles F. Madera, 
Michael McCrary. 
William Morgan, 
Richard F. Morgan. 
Charles H. Rankin. 
John Russell, 
Granville L. Stockman. 
Wm. B. Smith. 
Winfield S. Steele. 
James G. linger, 
George L. Whitmarsh. 
Samuel E. Welch. 



James D. Jenks. Captain. William R. Shriver. 1st Lieutenant. 

George M. Walker, 2d Lieutenant. 



James G. Rutter. 
Abraham J. Reeves. 
Willet Carpenter. 
John Barlow. 
Thomas Black. 
David W. Burnett. 
Edward Brown, 
Samuel W. Conrad. 
John M. Creswell, 
Cornelius Decker. 
Joseph Dyke. 
John C. Delbridge. 
Abel Graham. 
William G. Graham. 



John C. Hammon, 
Jacob Harsh. 
James Howery. 
Peter Hill, 
Albert Hutchinson. 
Henry C. Jeffries. 
Benj. R. Johnson. 
Milton R. Judkins. 
John V. Judkins. 
Jonathan Judkins. 
DeWitt C. Kelly. 
Roswell C. Kelly. 
Bayles E. Lake. 
Charles Lewis. 



William O. Ludlow. 
Hiram T. Metcalf. 
William H. Magill. 
Samuel B. Palmer. 
William B. Ramsey. 
James B. Rabbitt. 
Joseph K. Reynolds. 
Jackson C. Smith. 
Jesse Slough, 
Alanson W. Sager. 
Matthias B. Shaver. 
John H. Williams, 
William F. Whitmarsh. 



COMPANY E. 

Thomas A. Bereman, Captain. Silas R. Nugen. 1st Lieutenant. 

Sumner B. Marshall. 2d Lieutenant. 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 



401 



William A. Coulter. 
John T. North, 
Alexander F. Wildasiu. 
Christian Kautfman, 
Joseph H. Arnold, 
Josiah Lees, 
Robert Baxter. 
Isaac- N. Hall, 
(ieorge Ruel. 
Theodore Bigler, 
Fi'ancis B. Beam. 
Francis M. Buck. 
John W. Baker, 
Alexander Brown. 
Clement M. Bird. 



Carlisle Canterbury. 
Alvin B. Chatterton. 
James A. Campbell. 
Nathan J. Chilcott. 
William Cratty. 
Walter R. Craig. 
Ama.sa Daily, 
John E. Frank, 
Eugene W. Hall. 
Henry H. Hess, 
(ieorge W. Hill, 
Aurelius W. Hoffman. 
Charles W. Howard. 
(Jeorge E. Ives, 
Josiah James, 



Charles Jobes, 
Jeremiah Kitchen. 
Orlando I). Kincaid, 
Cyru.s L. Kincaid. 
Gad Lyman, 
John McCormick, 
Joseph Masden. 
James Montgomery, 
William B. Patten, 
Upton S. Ramsey, 
Effenger M. Stapleton. 
Jonathan Wilfoi'd, 
Fletcher M. Welpton. 
Elijah H. Bartlett. 



COMPANY F. 
Charles Dustin, (Japtaiu. Jacob Hursh, 1st Lieutenant. 

Char-les W. W. Dow, 2d Lieutenant. 



James C. Huskins. 
I'eter B. Greaves. 
James E. Wilson. 
Enos H. Wilson, 
Richard L. Hoxie. 
'I'homas J. Browner. 
'I'homas M. Hart, 
William F. Tatman. 
Balthazar Bollinger. 
Daniel D. Boyd, 
John Bolton, 
rJohn Corlett. 
John Cooper. 



James L. Calvert. 
AVarren H. Clark. 
l.ioren E. Craig, 
pjlisha Gray, 
Enoch A. Goodwin. 
Henry P. Jones, 
Marx Klein. 
Thomas S. Kendall. 
William P. McClure, 
(ieorge McClure. 
Charles McCoy. 
-James L, Mathews. 
Corydon L. Nourse, 



John Hamilton. 
Alonzo Owen. 
Bryan O'Connor, 
Thomas W. Priddy, 
Bernard C. Reiley. 
George W. Reiley, 
Thomas J. Reed, 
John J. Sanders. 
Cleophaus Smelcer. 
Marquis G. Troup. 
Alpheus Titus, 
Josiah Wilson, 
John D. Wilson. 



COMPANY G. 
-John McDermott, Ca^jtain. Elkanah 8. Foster. 

Solomon Smith. 2d Lieutenant. 



1st Lieutenant. 



William W. Babcock. 
Jeremiah Bivins, 
Edward P. Bronson. 
J.,evi Cassleman, 
Edw. L, Clinkenbeard. 
Daniel R. Cobb, 
(ieorge H. Dubois, 
(jreorge Detrick. 
(ieorge Ellsworth. 



James Hervey, 
Albert W. Hosford, 
William D. Johnson. 
El-nest Klingenberg. 
Coe Leteer, 
Ari Morgan. 
John Murphy. 
Cornelius Pocock. 
Samuel A. Rice. 



Louis Sherer. 
Charles M, Simnioris. 
David W, Scott. 
Wingate W. Tininiins. 
John Vest. 
Eli Warring, 
Jerome B. Wentwortli. 
John Wheeler. 



COMPANY H, 

William S. Whisenand, Captain. Albert L^. McCormick. 



Isl Lieut, 



Samuel W. Craig, 2d Lieutenant. 



David K. Webstei', 
(ieorge M. Mark, 
John S. Birkhead. 
James H. Cowan. 



.James Craig. 
David Carnes, 
Thomas H. Dull. 
Chilon Dickson. 



Thomas A. Matson. 
Thomas T. Maxwell, 
James A. Mark, 
Xelson H. Mavdole, 



402 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 



Walter S. Handley. 
John Hampton. 
Harlow G. Bates. 
Henry Wood. 
Sterling S. Bates. 
William H. Adams. 
James ('. Allen. 
Joseph L. Bates. 
Abram H. Babb. 
Francis P. Birkhall. 
Franklin Burdan, 
Lawson B. ('arlton, 
Nathan B. ('arroll, 
William H. ( 'owan. 



Daniel M. Elder, 
Daniel H. Ferman. 
Levi R. Frenier, 
Thomas C. Grey, 
Vincent. M. Quinn. 
Isaac Hartsuck, 
Ozro Harrington, 
Charles H. Holmes. 
Albert T. Hart. 
Henry H. Jefferson, 
Richard L. Knight, 
.Sylvanus M. Kester. 
William H, Kendall, 
David C. Ken worthy. 



Clifford W. Mason, 
Dyas Neill, 

Frederick H. Purinton. 
Abram Remson. 
Andrew J, Smith. 
John M. Snook. 
Martin W. Sullivan, 
Joseph Stagers, 
John F, B. Searcy. 
Leuman W. Story, 
Robert Sinclair. 
Joseph B. Teas, 
George C. Thompson. 
David F. White. 



COMPANY I. 

David C. Dinsmore, Captain. Amos Dilley. 1st Lieutenant. 

William H. Kitterman, 2d Lieutenant. 



Joseph H. Springer. 
Moses Miller. 
Noah W. Briles. 
Gottleib Bollen. 
David C, Bottorff, 
Wilson K. Bottorf. 
John M. Boster, 
Andrew 1, Chapman, 
Edwin M. Church, 
William Clark. 
Milton S. Clark. 
Theodore J. ( 'reamer. 
Albert Curtis. 
John A, Davis. 

COMPANY K. 

Robert 1^. Freeman, Captain. Thomas H. Barnes, 1st I.,ieutenant. 



George W. Dickens, 
Jonathan E. Dodge. 
Geore W. Dalton, 
Daniel A. Elliott. 
William D. Earl, 
Leander N. Godfrey. 
Andrew Hawk, 
Washington Hawk, 
Jackson Hendrickson, 
Absalom Hollingsworth, 
Andrew J. Johnson, 
Cornelius S. Johnston, 
Harris C Lynn. 



Samuel M. Lindsey. 
John M. Macklin. 
Samuel T. McCune. 
Charles H. McFarling. 
Robert T. Newell, 
Alonzo Parrish, 
Anson B. Phelps. 
John S. Shreeve, 
Samuel T. Sisson, 
William E. Street. 
Jasper N. Thompson. 
Henry C. Uhler, 
William Vanhoosen. 



Charles F. Keeler, 2d Lieutenant. 



James M. Russell. 
( 'harles Duboise. 
W^alter W. Carpenter. 
Peter Clausen, 
Peter Chambers. 
Stephen Harris, 
Edward Harmon. 
John L. Gardner. 
Benjamin A, Fay. 
George W. Kelly. 
Charles P, .\twood. 
William P. Bowers, 
Benton Bowman, 
Edwin (4, Bricker, 
John Berden, 
.John A, Bailey, 
.\bner J. Case. 



Charles G. Carpenter, 
Palmer Dobson, 
Barron Edwards, 
Albert H. Fairchilds. 
Morris Granger, 
Archibald Green, 
John Graydas, 
John L, Howarth, 
Thomas Hartin. 
Samuel Jamieson. 
Henry M, Jones, 
David P, Jennings. 
Jason W. Kinsley. 
John G. Kidder. 
George Lewis, 
Erastus Morgan. 
Oscar Moore. 



George Oathout. 
Orrin A. Phillips. 
Edward Reynolds. 
Benjamin Rathburne. 
John Sheeley, 
Samuel Stillions, 
Edward Sliter, 
Allen Sharp, 
William H. Saucer. 
George W. Smith, 
John M. Truman. 
Lewis Virden. 
George AVeikel, 
Harrison Wolf, 
William H. Walker. 
Samuel Wright. 



HISTORY OF FIR8T IOWA CAVALRY. 



40?J 



COMPANY L. 

David (\ Mclntyre. Captain. James M. Simeral. 1st I.,ieut«inanl. 

Warren Y. Reeves. 2d Lieutenant. 



John M. f^nochs. 
James V. Brown. 
Horace J. Leonard. 
James M. Kerr, 
( 'harles E. Miller. 
William W. Slade. 
Herbert L. Milln. 
James T. Xowlaii. 
John B. P. Dodd. 
James P. Ayrault. 
Aug'ust Brulot. 
John Bochrolein. 
Thompson F. Blair. 
Joseph Castanet. 
( 'harles A. Chase. 
Martin S. Cisco. 
Nathaniel Chandler. 
Stephen P. Carnahan. 
John H. Davis. 
(ieorge H. Davis. 

COMPANY M. 
James P. Crosby. Captain. Edward A. 



Andrew Doosler. 
Collin (J. Es.son. 
( harles H. Edgecomb. 
William W. Foote. 
'I'homas Fleming. 
William H. Gunn. 
(ieorge Harrington, 
(ieorge Hillman. 
David Jack. 
William Jenkins. 
George W. Jewett. 
.Stephen K. Keyes. 
Louis La France, 
(iottlieb Lange. 
Joseph Moody. 
Lucien B. Manwaring. 
Andrew Miller. 
Zebulon Maurice. 
Nicholas Maurice. 



William Martin. 
Nicholas Portz. 
Henry C. Potter. 
George S. Kogci-a. 
James E. Kice, 
Joshua Seward. 
Thomas Schadt. 
Henrv W. Smith. 
Clark M. Slade. 
Ira C. Scott. 
Mathew H. Scott. 
Joab Somers. 
William Smith, 
(ieorge P. Turnei-. 
Joseph Tienan. 
Francis Tienan. 
i'eter Walter. 
Jonathan Whit*-. 
John Wenger. 



Dunham. 1st Lieutenant. 



Solomon Townsend. 2d Lieutenant. 



(ieorge McDowall. 
(ieorge T. Nettle. 
Patrick E. Burke. 
Henrich Klapplin. 
James M. Alcorn. 
Henry Bennett. 
DeWitt C. Browneon. 
Noble H. Brown. 
Noah Boon. 
Missel Ballard. 
James (?lark. 
David Carr. 
Wm. (j. Cummings. 
Horace C. Cure. 
James M. Decker. 
Patrick Duffy. 
Miron Dean. 
John Douglas. 



Francis A. Doray. 
Thomas C. Elce. 
Thomas E. Francis. 
Paschal (iardner. 
Nathan fjordon. 
Thomas Gammel. 
Charles Hibber. 
Nelson P. Hill. 
William H. Hunting. 
James Harrod. 
Edwin H. Hines. 
Reuben Hubbell. 
Edward P. Iden. 
Martin Jordan. 
Richard M. Johnson. 
.Samuel A. Johnson. 
Jeremiah Kilmer. 
Marquis D. Lillie. 

FIELD AND STAFF. 



John M. Makinson. 
(ieorge McClintock. 
Abraham Murray. 
Robert B. McFarland. 
Eugene I. Mullen, 
(jeorge Pennington. 
William C. Potts, 
(ieorge W. Rice. 
Joseph Stamper, 
(ieorge Sears, 
(jieorge Thompson. 
Jacob Vanney. 
Frederick C. Wilkes. 
Edward Ware. 
Washington I. Walling. 
Joseph Wirth. 
William S. Young. 



William Thompson. Colonel. Charles H. Lothrop. Surgeon. 

Alex. G. McQueen. Lieut. Colonel. James Hervey. Asst. Surgeon. 
James D. Jenks. Major. Asa Morgan. Asst. Surgeon. 

Jr)hn McDermott. Major. William W. Fluke. (Quartermaster. 

James S. Rand. Chaplain. 



404 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAA'^ALRY. 



LINE OFFICERS. 



Robt. M. Reynolds. Capt. C"o. A. 
John L. Russell. 2d Lt. Co. A. 
Joseph T. Foster. Capt. Co. B. 
Henry P. Shiffer, 1st Lt. Co. B. 
Hiram S. Heberling, 2d Lt. Co. B. 
Thomas J. R. Perry, 1st Lt. Co. C. 
Clinton M. Turner. 2d Lt. Co. C. 
George M. Walker. Capt. Co. D. 
James G. Rutter. 1st Lt. Co. D. 
Wm. B. Ramsey. 2d Lt. Co. D. 
Thomas A. Bereman, Capt. Co. E. 
William A. Coulter, 1st Lt. Co. E. 
( Christian Kauffman, 2d Lt. Co. E. 



Charles Dustin, ("apt. C'o. F. 
Charles W. W. Dow. 1st Lt. Co. F. 
Albert W. Hosford, 2d Lt. Co. G. 
Wm. S. Whisenand. Capt. Co. H. 
Albert U. McCormick, 1st Lt, Co. H. 
Samuel T. Craig, 2d Lt. Co. H. 
Amos Dilley, 1st Lieut. Co. L 
James M. Russell, 2d Lt. Co. K. 
David C. Mclntyre. Capt. Co. L. 
James M. Simeral, 1st Lt. Co. L. 
John M. Enochs, 2d Lt. Co. L. 
Edward A. Dunham, 1st Lt. Co. M. 
Solomon Townsend, 2d Lt. Co. M. 



ADDITIONAL ENLISTMENTS. 



Ellas J. Babcoek. 
John J. Bell. 
Albion Blood. 
Milton Copp, 
Oliver L. Conn, 
(xeorge W. Carlton. 

Freeman Buell. 
Japheth Ball. 
James E. Elliott. 
Philip H. Francis. 

John H. Brandt. 
Jerome Carpenter. 
Charles Chickering. 
John H. (Uark, 
Doddridge W. Cook. 

John M. (!resswell. 
Wm. M. Sanderson. 



COMPANY A. 

Robert C. Dwigans. 
Joseph Dwigans, 
Lucius Fassett, 
Jerome Hollenbeck, 
John C. Lyon. 
Emery Mathews. 

COMPANY B. 

H. M. Johnson, 
Washington McNutt. 
Hiram H. Mayne, 
Charles H. Leffingwell. 

COMPANY C. 

Noah W. Estep, 
George W. Hardin. 
Marion Johnson. 
Charles Johnson. 
-John W. Morris. 

COMPANY 1). 

Joseph Dyke. 

COMPANY E. 



Charles L. Morrill. 
Andrew Neil. 
Byron Pettit, 
James R. Sci-oggs. 
Benjamin W^ingrove. 



Henry Samuels. 
William G. Tate. 
George W. Wheeler, 



Martin C. Morris, 
John C. Murphy. 
John I). Sunderland. 
John Upton. 



Jacob Harsh. 



Tighlman H. Bereman. Washington Klingaman. John C. 'I'itfany. 
Samuel H. Howe. John Potter. 



COMPANY F. 

John W. Baxter. Ellei-y N. Foster. 

John H. Boyd, 

COMPANY (i. 

Joseph M. Maxwell. David Terwilliger. 
Virgil Race. 

COMPANY H. 

Edward C. Douglas. Thomas Jones. 

Joseph L. Hall, David H. King. 

Silas C. Hennagin. Anderson Lister. 

Ralph Hennagin. West McDowell. 



James M. Merritt. 



(Jeorge W. Walker. 



Peter Quinn. 
John P. Ross. 
-Tohn Wilson. 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY, 



4-0 



Augustus Anderson. 
John Campbell. 
Seth T. Kempton. 

Harry O. Burger, 
Albert Burgess, 
Henry P. Brooks. 
Melvin Bonham. 
John Douglass, 
Daniel T. Durbon. 
(reo. W. D. Eastman. 
Royal P. Faris. 
Samuel J. Fry. 
Dudley Sti'oud, 
Benjamin G. Stanley. 
Nicholas Swingle. 



(Jharles L. Barnum. 
Nathaniel Chandler. 
Daniel H. Hughes, 
(reorge W. Jewett. 

(ieorge Allen. 
James M. Alcorn. 
James Donahue. 
Lorenzo Dean. 
Francis A. Doray. 
Hiram Fay. 

James E. Arnold. 
Robert F. Armstrong. 
John M. Anderson. 
Dan'l W. B. Anderson. 
Eber M. Alford. 
Oliver B. Ackerman. 
Harvey D. Andrews. 
Lyman W. Austin. 
Adolphus Z. Brown. 
Hiram Brown. 
Benjamin F. Best. 
Frank M. Boxley, 
John J. Buffington. 
Joseph Brun. 
Victor Burn ham. 
Plympton Babcock. 
Lyman H. Bi-ownson. 
Joseph Benedict. 
James H. Br-ace. 
Charles Bates. 
Anderson M. Benge. 
Thomas R. Bickley. 



COMPANY I. 

George B. Kempton. 
James B. Kempton. 
Jacob H. Munson. 

COMPANY K. 

Albert C. Grantham, 
Hiram Hackenberg, 
John W. Holmes. 
Freedom J. Howard. 
Jason W. Kinsley. 
George M. Josljm, 
George K. Massiker. 
Leonidas Ogg. 
Malachi Perry. 
Jesse B. Shelharaer, 
Hans E. Schoolrud. 
John Tussack. 

COMPANY L. 

John A. Long, 
James E. McCalligan. 
James McClavey. 

COMPANY M. 

John A. Grundy. 
Eugene E. Hannabal. 
Silas W. Harris. 
James Harrad. 
Hiram Hay ward. 

INASSIONED. 

John Blein. 
Andrew W. Benn. 
Clinton M. Barto. 
John L. Bolding. 
Francis Bias. 
Joseph F. Bell. 
William D. Boyd. 
Peter Brown. 
William N. Bishop. 
p]dgar \V. Brownson. 
Jesse M. Cook. 
Patrick Caill. 
Wm. S. Coushman. 
Charles Cox. 
James M. ('alder, 
flames Coakley, 
John D. Corbin. 
John P. Corbin. 
John Cook, 
Burson Clement. 
Jesse Cooper. 
Ruesell G. (^urtiss. 



Audrey J. McBroom. 
Franklin Prentiss, 
Simeon Strong. 

John Retsel, 
Jonathan R. Porter. 
John Peters, 
Elijah G. Preston. 
Charles E. Roe, 
Calvin A. Robey, 
Charles W. Roberts. 
Elias Reynolds, 
Edward Reynolds. 
Jesse Thayer. 
Evan W. Williams. 
Walter H. Wheeler. 



Solomon E. Peak. 
William Smith. 
Henry W. Smith. 



Edwin A. Kendall. 
Robert B. McFarland. 
Peter McMartin. 
John M. Smith, 
(ieorge Shuman. 



Henry (;. Oandall. 
Seth Crowell. 
Harrison Chatman. 
Charles P. Crocker. 
Bersilla R. Cai-penter. 
(jeorge W. Crawford. 
William H. Clark. 
Ti-acy W. Cook. 
(Jarvin Couller, 
("harles W. Callahan. 
John P. Cochrane, 
William N. Colegrove. 
Christian Cook, 
Horace S. Crandall, 
Charles Castele. 
William W. Davis. 
John S. Davis, 
Ira B, Drake. 
John W. Dawson. 
David Decker, 
Jerome Dowrife. 
John Duffy. 



-ilU) 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 



Edward E. Britton. 
Ciiarles Daily, 
William Doug-hty, 
Ira A. Davis. 
James K. P. England, 
Silas H. Emery, 
Marion Ellsworth, 
C^harles B. Eggleston. 
Robert F. Elinger, 
Wm. Eastman. 
Thaddeus Eli, 
Argayla Euke. 
W. K. Egglestone. 
Horace A. Fay, 
Daniel M. Fay, 
John Feesack, 
Ivucien D. Fowler. 
Alvara B. French. 
Jonathan Ford, 
Nathan G. Filley, 
Henry H. Fuller. 
Hugh Fairburn, 
Benj. D. Frame, 
Andrew Finkenkiller, 
Samuel H. FuUerton. 
William Flannigan. 
James J. Gray, 
William L. Gantz. 
Alvin T. Green, 
Joseph Gardover. 
Waldo (irant, 
Edward P. Gillett. 
Cyrus C. Gibbs. 
F'rancis Howe. 
James Hitchings. 
George Hoyt. 
Milton W. Hulburt. 
John Hitchings. 
Augustus Hulbiu't, 
David Hammon. 
William Harper. 
Allen A. Harden. 
John B. Hawkins. 
Samuel B. Hotinger. 
Henry Hotinger. 
George W. Hoskins. 
Benjamin A. Hale. 
Lyman Harden, 
Frederick Herwick. 
David Heister, 
Charles H, Housh. 
James W. Horn. 
Isaiah M. Hoggett. 
William F. Haun. 



Beaman Colville, 
Joseph D. Ingar. 
Thomas A. Jessop, 
Andi-ew L. Jay. 
Samuel Johnson. 
Lindley H. Joy, 
William S. Jobe. 
Taylor Judkins. 
Allen Jones, 
Jacob Keffer, 
John Kitterman. 
William H. Krotz, 
Jacob L. Kerhart. 
John Keller, 
John B. Kelly, 
James Kile, 
Jacob W. Kirk, 
Wesley P. Kimberly. 
George W. Ledington. 
John Lynch, 
Euretas C. Lyman. 
Adam Lafolleet, 
Milan A. Loomis. 
John Likes. 
Martin Likes. 
William W. Lane. 
Edward B. Lair, 
Jesse R. Lyman. 
John B. Love, 
James K. Markley, 
James T. Mullford. 
Samuel McMurry. 
Ephraim Moore. 
John A. Mclntyre. 
Adam Marquett. 
John W. Mauk. 
George Naier. 
Elias Marks, 
Reuben G. Merrill, Sr, . 
Reuben G. Merrill, Jr. , 
John W. Miller. 
Isaac Martin. 
Wm. H. Massay. 
John H. Miner. 
David S. Millin. 
William Masina. 
Joseph W. Milner. 
Joseph Marchant. 
John MoUinger. 
Geoi'ge W. McCowan. 
Charles W. Maclin, 
Wm. McCallister. 
Charles McCarty. 
William W. McCoy. 



James Daily, 
Isaac R. Mathews. 
David McMains, 
Joseph McCorkel, 
John A. Morrow, 
George W. Newell, 
Henry Null, 
Henry R. Newcomb. 
Edward Noa, 
William B. Ott, 
Ephraim L. Orr, 
James Ousley, 
Aaron F. Ogden, 
Laban O'Bleness. 
Michael O'Reilly, 
Charles A, Orr, 
William H. Podmore, 
Jacob M. Pickett. 
James H. Phelan. 
Edward Poole. 
Joseph Peach. 
James Pool, 
Thomas A. Pickard. 
Hiram Pickard. 
David Rutter, 
Joseph C. Ritchey. 
Abraham Robins. 
Thomas C. Robinson. 
Dallas Richardson, 
John A. Reed, 
Zachariah Read, 
Nelson Roberts, 
Ej-astus D. Ryan. 
Lenors Richstinn. 
Thomas H. Rhode, 
George Reynolds. 
Hiram Root, 
Thomas Rhatigan, 
William H. Rowe. 
William W. Snook. 
Samuel Smith. 
John Smith. 
Remembrance M. Swan. 
James B. Smith. 
Walter A. Smith, 
James R. Scroggs. 
James L. Sayres. 
Edmond W. Seeves. 
David B. Sterett. 
Madison Stewart. 
George D. Smith. 
Luther N. Smith. 
John Scheffert, 
David O. Schoemaker. 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 



407 



William L. Imes, 
Jacob Shell, 
James- D. Starkey, 
John Skinner, 
Vandeliez' Slade, 
John W. Scrackongart. 
Archibald Sinclair, 
John M. Sprague, 
Thomas Shampnoi. 
(xeorge Teas, 
Alonzo W. Taft, 
John D. Tedro, 
Orange F. Tabor, 
Robert M. Tillotston. 
Don Tremaine, 
Silas C. Truman. 
Hugfh L. Short. 



Moses S. McCoy, 
Alex. J, Thompson, 
Andrew J. Usher, 
William VanWinkle, 
Willis Van Winkle, 
Martin Varley, 
James K. P. Van Fleet. 
Matthias Wagoner. 
John Wilson, 
(ieorge S. Watson, 
Richard H. Watson, 
Francis M. Wimberby, 
Conrad Williams, 
Thomas B. Williams. 
John (). Walker. 
Alfred Walker. 
Simeon Tuttle, 



Lewis Stoneman, 
Oscar N. Williams, 
Thomas S. Williams, 
Nichlas Witzel. 
John C. West. 
Thomas J. Whetstine, 
Warren L. Wallong. 
David Williams. 
Ira H. Wildman, 
Willis Ward, 
Jos. Parker Williams, 
James A. Weak, 
James Williams, 
Edgar L, Winson, 
James H. Wise, 
Lewis Wood. 
Isaac J. Wilmeth, 



1S66. 
FIELD AND STAFF, 



William Thompson, Colonel. 
Alex. (i. McQueen, Lieut. Colonel. 
James D. Jenks, Major. 
John McDermott, Major, 
William Whisenand, Major. 
( 'harles H. Lothrop. Surgeon. 



James Hervey. Asst. Surgeon. 
Asa Morgan, Asst. Surgeon. 
Henry L. Morrill. Adjutant. 
William W. Fluke. Quartermaster, 
Robert T. Newell, Commissary, 
James S. Rand, Chaplain. 



LINE OFFICERS. 



I'homas J. O'Bleness, Capt. Co. A. 
Alex. P. Boyce, 1st Lieut. Co. A. 
James P. Turner. 2d Lieut. Co. A. 
Joseph T. Foster, Capt. Co. B. 
Henry P. Shiffer. 1st Lieut. Co. B. 
Hiram S. Heberling. 2d Lt. Co. B. 
Thomas J. R. Perry. Capt. Co. C. 
(Uinton M. Turner! 1st Lt. Co. C. 
(xeorge Van Beek. 2d Lt. Co. C. 
(George M. Walker. Capt. Co. I). 
James G. Rutter. 1st Lt. Co. D. 
John C. Hamraon, 2d Lt. Co. D. 
William A. Coulter. Capt. Co. E. 
Christian KautTman, 1st Lt. Co. E. 
Robert Baxter. 2d Lt. Co. E. 
Chai'les Dustin. Capt. Co. F. 
Charles W. W. Dow, 1st Lt. Co. F. 
James C. Huskins. 2d Lt. Co. F. 



Albert W. HosFord. Capt. Co. (i. 
Ernst A. Klingenberg, 1st Lt. Co. G. 
Eli Waring, 2d Lt. Co. G. 
Albert U. McCormick. Capt. Co. H. 
Samuel T. Craig, 1st Lt. Co. H. 
(Ieorge M. Mark. 2d Lt. Co. H. 
Amos Dilley, Capt. Co. I. 
Joseph H. Springer. 1st Lt. Co. I. 
Samuel M. Lindsey. 2d Lt. Co. I. 
James M. Russell, Capt. Co. K. 
Walter W. Carpenter, 1st Lt. Co. K. 
Charles DuBois. 2d Lt. Co. K. 
David C. Mclntyre, Capt. Co. L. 
James M. Simeral. 1st Lt. Co. L. 
John M. Enochs. 2d Lt. Co. L. 
Solomon Townsend, Capt. Co, INI. 
Ceorge McDowell, 1st Lt. Co. M. 
Edward Ware, 2d Lieut. Co. M. 



ADDITIONAL ENLISTMENTS. 

COMPANY B. 



John Stephens, 



408 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 



COMPANY' D. 
Alvin T. Grier. 

COMPANY E. 
COMPANY H. 

G. W. Teal, 



Clement Benson, 
J. H. Rhodes. 

J. K. FoUett. 
Thomas C. Gray, 

COMPANY I. 

Martin E Anderson. Wm. H. H. Gitt'ord. 
Isaac G. Daniels, 

COMPANY L. 

Georg-e Anson. 

COMPANY M. 
Ambrose Braden. John H. Kice, 

Hoffman Brown. 



William Hanag-in. 



David E. White. 



Joseph M. Maxwell. 



Joseph Worth. 



1866. 
MEDICAL DEPARTMENT DURING THE WAR. 



Milton B. Cochran, Surgeon. 
Charles H. Lothrop, Surgeon. 
David B. Alleu, Asst. Surgeon. 
C'harles H. Lothrop, Asst. Surgeon 
John A. Ladd. Asst. Surgeon. 
John J. Sanders, Asst. Surgeon. 
James Hervey, Asst. Surgeon. 
Asa Morgan, Asst. Surgeon. 
Charles H. Lothrop, Ad. Asst. Sur. 
-loseph C. Stone, Hospital Steward. 



James Hervey. Hospital Steward. 
Edwin M. Winters, Hos. Steward. 
John J. Sanders, Hos. Steward. 
Robert T. Newell. Hos. Steward. 
George Delf elder. Hos. Steward. 
Barron S. Edwards, Hos. Steward. 
James Hervey, Bat. Hos. Steward. 
Edwin M. Winters, Bat. Hos. Sfd. 
Thomas H. Elder, Bat. Hos. St'd. 



FIELD AND STAFF DURING THE WAR. 



Fitz Henry Warren. Colonel. 
James O. Gower. Colonel. 
Daniel Anderson. Colonel. 
William Thompson, Colonel. 
Charles E. Moss, Lieut. Colonel. 
P. Gad Bryan. Lieut. Colonel. 
Daniel Anderson. Lieut. Colonel. 
Jos. W. Caldwell, Lieut. Colonel. 
Alex. G. McQueen, Lieut. Colonel. 
p]dwin W. Chamberlin. Majoi-. 
flames O. Gower, Major. 
Wm. M. G. Torrence. Major. 
P. (^ad Bryan, Major. 
Daniel Anderson. Major, 
ffoseph W. Caldwell. Major. 
Levi Chase, Major. 
William Thompson, Major. 
Alexander (i. McQueen, Major. 
James D. Jenks, Major. 
John McDermott, Major. 



David B. Allen, Asst. Surgeon. 
C'harles H. Lothrop, Asst. Surgeon. 
John A. Ladd, Asst. Surgeon. 
Abram B. Hershey, Asst. Surgeon. 
John J. Sanders, Asst. Surgeon. 
James Hervey, Asst. Surgeon. 
Asa Morgan, Asst. Sui'geon. 
Charles B. Bosbyshell, A. A. S. 
Charles H. Lothrop, A. A. S. 
Joseph C. Stone, Adjutant, 
David A. Kerr. Adjutant. 
John A. Donnell, Adjutant. 
Henry L. Morrill, Adfutant. 
Martin L. Morris, Quartermaster. 
Sam'l C. Dickerson. Quartermastr. 
Claus H. Albers, Quartermaster. 
Wm. W. Fluke. Quai'termaster. 
Henry L. Dashiel, Commissary. 
Robert T. Newell, Commissary. 
David A. Kerr, Bat. Adjutant. 



HISTORY OF FIKST IOWA CAVALRY. 



4:09 



Thomas A. Bereman, Major. 
William S. Whisenand, Major. 
Milton B. Cochran, Surgeon. 
John A. Landis, Bat. Q. M. 
Charles A. Case. Bat. Q. M. 
William H. Muzzy, Bat. Q. M. 



James M. Bi-yan. Bat. Adjutant. 
Henry B. Robinson, Bat. Adjutant. 
Joseph S. Edsall, Bat. Adjutant. 
James W. Latham. Chaplain. 
John M. Coggeshall, Chaplain. 
James S. Rand. Chaplain. 



LINE OFFICERS DURING THE WAR. 



Wm. M. G. Torrence, Capt. Co. A. 
Alex. McQueen. Capt. Co. A. 
Robert M. Reynolds, Capt. Co. A. 
Thomas J. O'Bleness, Capt. Co. A. 
Alex. G. McQueen. 1st Lt. Co. A. 
Robert M. Reynolds, 1st Lt. Co. A. 
John R. Marshall, lat Lt. Co. A. 
John R. Russell. 1st Lt. Co. A. 



George M. Walker. 1st J>t. Co. D. 
James G. Rutter, 1st Lt. Co. D. 
William R. Shriver, 2d Lt. Co. D. 
George M. Walker, 2d Lt. Co. D. 
William B. Ramsey, 2d Lt. Co. D. 
John C. Hammon, 2d Lt. Co. D. 
William Thompson. Capt. Co. E. 
Thomas A. Bereman. Capt. Co. E. 



Thomas J. O'Bleness, 1st Lt. Co. A. William A. Coulter. Capt. Co. E. 
Alexander P. Boyce, 1st Lt. Co. A. William P. McClure. 1st Lt. Co. E. 
Robert M. Reynolds, 2d Lt. Co. A. Silas R. Nugen. 1st Lt. Co. E. 
John A. Bishop. 2d Lt. Co. A. William A. Coulter. Ist Lt. Co. E. 

John R. Marshall. 2d Lt. Co. A. Christian ('. Kauff man. IstLt. C;o. E. 
Andrew S. Hamilton. 2d Lt. Co. A. Thomas A. Bereman. 2d Lt. Co. E. 
John L. Russell, 2d Lt. Co. A. Sumner B. Marshall. 2d Lt. Co. E. 

Thomas J. O'Bleness. 2d Lt. Co. A. William A. Coulter. 2d Lt. Co. E. 
Alexander P. Boyce, 2d Lt. Co. A. Christian C. Kauffman. 2d Lt. Co. E. 
James P. Turner, 2d Lt. Co. A. George E. Ives, 2d Lt. Co. E. 
Wm. E. Leffingvvell, Capt. Co. B. Robert Baxter. 2d Lt. Co. E. 



vSamuel S. Burdett. Capt. Co. B. 
Joseph T. Foster. Capt. Co. B. 
'Samuel S. Burdett, 1st Lt. Co. B 
Joseph T. Foster. 1st Lt. Co. B. 
Henry P. Shifter, 1st Lt. Co. B. 
Wm. H. DeFreest, 2d Lt. Co. B. 
Henry P. Shifter. 2d Lt. Co. B. 
Hiram S. Heberling, 2d Lt. Co. 
Levi Chase, Capt. Co. C. 
Thomas Jones. Capt. Co. C. 
Thomas R. Pen-y. Capt. Co. C. 
Benjamin Raney. 1st Lt. C'o. C. 
Thomas Jones. 1st Lt. Co. C. 
Mathew Ronaldson, 1st Lt. Co. 



B. 



C. 



James O. Gower, Capt. Co. F. 
James R. Elliott. Capt. Co. F. 
Philip E. Shaver. Capt. Co. F. 
Charles Dustin. Capt. Co. F. 
James R. Elliott, 1st Lt. Co. F. 
Philip E. Shaver. 1st Lt. Co. F. 
Charles Dustin. 1st Lt. Co. F. 
Jacob Hursh. 1st Lt. Co. F. 
Charles W. W. Dowr. 1st Lt. Co. 
Philip E. Shaver. 2d Lt. Co. F. 
Charles Dustin. 2d Lt. Co. F. 
Jacob Hursh. 2d J^t. Co. F. 
Charles W. W^ Dow. 2d Lt. ( o. 
James P. Huskins. 2d Lt. Co. F 



F. 



Thomas J. R. Perry, 1st Lt. Co. C. James D. Thompson. Capt. Co. G. 



Clinton M. Turner. 1st Lt. Co. C. 
Albert F. Dean. 2d Lt. Co. C. 
Thomas Jones. 2d Lt. Co. C. 
Mathew Ronaldson. 2d Lt. Co. C. 
William A. Clark. 2d Lt. Co. C. 
Clinton M. Turner. 2d Lt. Co. C. 
(ieorge Van Beek. 2d Lt. Co. C. 
I'. Gad Bryan. Capt. Co. D. 
James D. Jenks. Capt. Co. D. 
(ieorge M. Walker, ('apt. Co. I). 
James D. Jenks. 1st Lt. Co. D. 
William R. Shriver, 2d Lt. Co. D. 
52 



John McDermott. Capt. Co. (J. 
Albert W. Hosford. Capt. Co. (i. 
John McDermott. 1st Lt. Co. G. 
Elkanah S. Foster, 1st Lt. Co. G. 
Ernst A. Klingenberg. 1st Lt. Co. (i. 
Elkanah S. Foster. 2d Lt. Co. (4. 
Solomon Smith. 2d Lt. Co. (i. 
Albert W. Hosford. 2d Lt. Co. (i. 
Eli Waring. 2d Lt. Co. (i. 
Daniel Anderson. Ca])t. Co. H. 
Riley Westcoatt. Capt. Co. H. 
Wm. S. Whisenand. Capt. Co. H. 



41 (J HISTORY OF B^IRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

A. U. McCormick, Capt. Co. H. Albert L. Freeman, 2d Lt. Co. K. 

Riley Westcoatt. 1st Lt. Co. H. Hiram H. Sowles. 2d Lt. Co. K. 

Wm. S. Whisenand, 1st Lt. Co. H. Charles F. Keeler, 2d Lt. Co. K. 

A. U. McCormick. 1st Lt. Co. H. James M. Russell, 2d Lt. Co. K. 

Samuel T. Craig, 1st Lt. Co. H. Charles DuBois, 2d Lt. Co. K. 

Wm. S. Whisenand, 2d Lt. Co. H. Herman H. Heath, Capt. Co. L. 

A. U. McCormick, 2d Lt. Co. H. David C. Mclntyre, Capt. Co. L. 

Samuel T. Craig, 2d Lt. Co. H. David C. Mclntyre, 1st Lt. Co. L. 

George M. Mark, 2d Lt. Co. H. James M. Simeral, 1st Lt. Co. L. 

Joseph W. Caldwell. Capt. Co. L James M. Simeral, 2d Lt. Co. L. 

David C. Dinsmore, Capt. Co. I. W. Y. Reeves, 2d Lt. Co. L. 

Amos Dilley, Capt. Co. 1. John M. Enochs, 2d Lt. Co. L. 

David C. Dinsmore. 1st Lt. Co. J. Wm. H. Ankeny, Capt. Co. M. 

Amos Dilley. 1st Lt. Co. L James P. Crosby, Capt. Co. M. 

Joseph H. Springer. 1st Lt. Co. I. Solomon Townsend, Capt. Co. M. 

Wm. H. Kitterman, 2d Lt. Co. I. James Crissey, 1st Lt. Co. M. 

Samuel M. Lindsey, 2d Lt. Co. L Edwin A. Dunham, 1st Lt. Co. M. 

Robert L. Freeman, Capt. Co. K. George McDowell. 1st Lt. Co. M. 

Thomas H. Barnes, Capt. Co. K. James P. Crosby. 2d Lt. Co. M. 

James M. Russell, Capt. Co. K. Edwin A. Dunham. 2d Lt. Co. M. 

Thomas H. Barnes. 1st Lt. Co. K. Solomon Townsend. 2d Lt. Co. M. 

CJharles F. Keeler, 1st Lt. Co. K. (ieorge McDowell. 2d Lt. Co. M. 

W. W. Carpenter. 1st Lt. Co. K. Edward M. Ware. 2d Lt. Co. M. 

NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND PRIVATES 

KilU'd. Wnnnded. Died of Wounds. Died of Disease. Discharged for 
Disability and for Promotion. During the War. 

NON COMMISSIONED STAFF. 

John B. Aiken. Sergeant Major, discharged Feb. 26, 'iyo. for disability. 

('. H. Thompson. Q. M. S.. dis. Aug. 30, '63, for promotion, Capt. C. S. 

J. T. Foster. Bat. S. M.. wounded. July 16, '62, at Big Creek Clift's, Mo. 

H. L. Dashiel, B. Q. S.. wounded, July 16, '62, Big Creek Cliffs, severely. 

Dexter A. Buck. dis. Sept. 25, '62, for disability. 

Joseph Stone. Chief Bugler, died May 17. '62. Butler, Mo., of wounds. 

John J. Sanders, Hospital Steward, captured, July 29. '63. 

Lucius B. Man waring. Commissary, promoted Oct.. 1H65. from Co. L. 

COMPANY A. 

Thos. Reynolds. Coin. Ser.. dis. Jan. 21, '65. St. Louis, disability. 
Thos. C. Van Hook. Ser.. died Sept. 28. '62, shot by guerrillas Sept. 20. 
Walter S. Gray, Ser., transferred, Aug. 15, '63, to invalid corps. 
Clayton F. Driskill, Cor., died April 11. '64, wounds at Prairie d" Anne, 
.las. Robertson. Cor., drowned Jan. 22. '63. Forsyth, Mo.. White river. 
Anthony Vanaerman, Cor., wounded Aug. 27, '63, Bayou Metoe, sev. 
.Joseph S. Van Sa,nt, Cor., transferred for prom, in 1st Ark. Infantry. 
.John Wright 2d. Cor., wounded April 20, '64. Moro, Ark., left leg, sev. 
Wm. K. Reeves. Far., died Dec. 26. '63, Montrose, Iowa, of dysentery. 
Aaron H. Thatcher. Far., dis. Feb. 24. '63. Springfield. Mo., disability. 
Wm. C. Andrews, private, dis. Dec. 19. '62. Keokuk, disability. 
Harvey Adair, died Mar. 30. '64. Little Rock. Ark., pneumonia. 
Albin Blood, dis. Sept. 1, '65. Davenport, disability. 
Bartlett Brown, died Aug. 23, '64, Little Rock, remittent fever. 
Brainard Bridges, dis. Aug. 4, '63. 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 411 

R. T. Baker, died Aug:. -^1. 'f><^. Brownsville. Ark., congestive chills. 

(i. W. Collins, died July 11. '62, Big Creek Cliffs, shot by guerrillas. 

A. C. (or C. A.) Carter, dis. April 14. '63, Lake Springs. Mo., disability. 

Wm. H. Carter, wounded Oct. 28, '62. near Cross Hollows. Ark. 

John W. Cross, died Jan. 19, '63. Springfield, Mo., phthisis pulmonalis. 

(reo. F. Davidson, died Sept. 30. '63, Little Rock, chronic diarrhoea. 

Lewis H. Foster, died Nov. 29, 1861. Syracuse, Mo., convulsions. 

Williamson H. Fortune, wounded Dec. 7, '62, Prairie Grove, slightly. 

Thomas C. Fletcher, wounded Jan. 8. '62. Silver Creek, Mo. 

(leo. W. Green, wounded Aug. 20, '62. severely, accidental dis. of gun. 

(ieo. W. Green, dis. May 27, '63, Keokuk. 

Owen P. Gower, killed Sept. 27, '64, Centralia. Mo., Anderson's guei-. 

Ambrose Galligher. dis. May 26, '63, St. Louis, prom. 11th Mo. Cav. 

Herman Huiska-mp. trans. May 20, '63. to 2d Lieutenantcy in 6th. 

Nelson Holding, died May 28, '65, Memphis, Tenn., chronic dysentery. 

Elwood Hollingsworth, dis. Feb. 12. "63. Forsyth, Mo., disability. 

Frederick Herwick, dis. dishonorably by sentence of court martial. 

John Herwick. trans.. Little Rock. prom, in 4th Ark. Inf. A. I). 

Gilbert W. (rcnree. trans. Aug. 21, '63, to invalid corps. 

Frank H. Jones, dis. June 21. '62, Clinton, Mo., disability. 

(reo. H. Klingenberry, died Sept. 8, "64, near Helena, chronic diarrhoea. 

Hiram Leland, killed Aug. 27, '63, Bayou Metoe. in battle. 

Fernery Mathews, died Sept. 13, '64, Little Rock, typhoid fever. 

Jas. F. McKinley, died Sept. 9, '63, Brownsville, Ark., chronic diarrhoea. 

C. E. Moss, Jr., dis. Sept. 4. '64, St. Louis, prom. 2d Lt. 41st Mo. Inf. 

Jas. McCutcheon, dis. Mar. 2, '65, Memphis. Tenn.. disability. 

John Mack, dis. Oct. 1,'61. St. Louis, prom. 111. Inf. 

('has. L. Morrill, died Mar. 7, '65. Little Rock, inflammation stomach. 

Byj'on Pettit. died Sept. 17. '64, Memphis, chronic diarrhoea. 

Prosper A. Rose, deserted Feb. 14, '63, Forsyth, Mo. 

Levi Wm. Rosecrans. dis. Feb. 12, '62 Forsyth, Mo., disability. 

Anglos F. Sala, wounded Sept. 10, '63. l^ittle Rock, slightly in thigh. 

James Scott, wounded Jan. 8. "62. Silver Creek. Mo., severely in face. 

Jacob M. Shook, wounded accidentally in foot. 

Zach. E. Thomas, dis. Mar. 24. '63. Springfield. Mo., pro. 11th Mo. Cav. 

Pleasant A. Timberlake, died Jan. 7, '64, Keokuk, chronic diarrha-^a. 

Prentice K. Tuttle. trans. Aug. 21, '63, to invalid corps. 

(i. W. Warson. died July 10. '62, Gates Farm, Mo., w'ds rec'd July 9. 

Ad. Walker, dis. Feb. 12. '62. Forsyth, Mo., disability. 

Oren Wilkins. dis. June 30, '64. Little Rock, disability. 

Harrison T. Wilson, wounded, near Clinton, Mo., by guerrillas, in neck. 

A. J. Wilson, wounded Aug. 27, "63. Bayou Metoe, slightly in forearm. 

A. J. Wilson, wounded Feb. 19, '64. near Little Rock, slightly in face. 

A. J, Wilson, trans. June 30. '65. to V. R. C. ; dis. July 26. '63. 

COJIPANY B. 

Stephen B. Dunne. Ser.. dis. June 30. '62. Butler. Mo., disability. 

(ieo. W. Kincaid, Ser.. dis. May 5, "62. Osceola. Mo., di-sability. 

Levi (j. Allen. Cor., deserted July 19. "62. Osceola. Mo., joined rcl)els. 

(ieo. A. Gibson. Cor., dis. Sept. 27, '62, St. Louis, disability. 

Lemuel Durling, Cor., deserted June 24. '62, Osceola. Mo. 

Charles C. Hall. Cor., deserted June. 24. '62, Osceola. Mo. 

Thomas MuUins. Far., killed May 30. '63, Rolla. Mo., by a sentinel. 

Wm. G. Graham. Sad., died Nov. 16. '63. Little Rock, chronic diarrhoea. 



412 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

Geoi'ge D. Allen, dis., St. Louis. 

Geo. F. Bantz. died Nov. 21. '63, near Little Rock, chronic diarrhoea. 

Dexter A Buck. dis. Sept. 15. '62, disability. 

David S. Bullock, captured Feb. 24, '63, Sugar Loaf Prairie, Ark. 

Japheth Bell, died July 20, '64, Little Rock, chronic diarrhoea. 

Robert W. Bodell. discharged to accept promotion. 

Seth Crowell. died Oct. 5, '64, Little Rock. 

Silas D. Crawford, died, St. Louis. Mo. 

John Carr, deserted April 2, '62, Clinton, Mo. 

James C. Carr. deserted April 2. '62, Clinton, Mo. ; returned to duty. 

James C. Carr. deserted Oct. 4, '62, Springfield, Mo. 

John Downing, discharged June 5, '62, disability. 

James M. Debinney, deserted July 18, '62, Osceola, Mo. 

Geo. W. Dilley, killed Sept. 27, '64. Centralia, Mo., murdered by guer. 

William H. Evans, discharged July 8, '62, disability. 

Geo. H. Fleming, killed Nov. 12, '62, Lexington, Mo., in skirmish, guer. 

Samuel B. Gates, killed Aug. 24. '63. Brownsville, Ark., shot by sen. 

Henry J. Guth, transferred Sept. 25, '64, to U. S. Lancers. 

Wm. F. Haim, died June 3-11, '64, Little Rock, typhoid fever. 

Wm. J. Haney. discharged Feb. 15, '63, disability. 

Wm. H. Hughson. capt. April 25. '64, Moro Creek, Ark. ; pris. a year. 

Henry J. Heiman. dis. June 4. '63, Springfield. Mo., disability. 

Hiram Huchenberg, died Nov. 17, '64, Little Rock. 

James C. Kier, dis. June, '62, Osceola, Mo., disability. 

John M. D. Kelly, died Aug. 2. '61, Burlington, apoplexy. 

John Kelly, drowned Mar. 2. '63, near Forsyth, Mo., in White river. 

Duncan P. McDonald, missing, April 2, '64, Antonia. Ark., in action. 

David D. Mills, deserted April 2, '64, Clinton, Mo. 

Smedley H. McMaster. dis. May 4. '63, Springfield, Mo. 

Samuel McMurray, died Dec. 10-17, '64, Little Rock, typhoid fever. 

Chas. G. P. Myers, deserted June, '64, Little Rock. 

Wm. H. Podmore. died Oct. 23, '65, Hempstead, Texas. 

Charles L. Prior, killed May 2. "64, Little Rock, shot by guard. 

Frank H. Robinson, dis. July 10, '63. St. Louis. 

Joseph H. Robertson, dis. May 14, '63, Springfield, Mo., disability. 

Henry Samuels, died Aug. 1, "64, Little Rock, typhoid fever. 

Ezra J. Smith, dis. Feb. 14, "65, Louisville. Ky., pro. 12th Mo. Inf. 

Don Tremaine. died June 19. '64, Little Rock. 

Wm. Wilber. woimded Mar. 12, '62. near Lexington, Mo., in skirmish. 

Samuel Whipple, deserted Oct. 4, '64, Springfield, Mo. 

Dwight H. Whedon. dis. Feb. 24, '63, Forsyth, Mo., disability. 

Warren Williams, wounded in hand by pistol shot. 

Oscar G. Williams, killed Sept. 27. '64. Centralia. Mo., mur. by guer. 

COMPANY ('. 
Wm. a. Harbach, Q. M. Ser.. died May 27. '6-2. Osceola. Mu.. wound. 
Mathew Ronaldson. Ser., wounded Mar. 25. '62, slightly in face. 
Frederick O. Lane. Ser., deserted July 7, '64, Davenport. 
Otis S. Whiting, Ser.. died Dec. 23, '63, West Point, chronic diarrhoea, 
(reo. W. Patterson. Cor., dis. Nov. 2, '63. Keokuk, disability. 
William P. Allen. Bugler, trans, to 67th U. S. C. Inf.. pro. to Lieut. 
E. W. Deal. Sad., drowned in Miss, river bet. Burlington and St. Louis. 
O. W. Coffman. died Dec. 26, '63. Lucas county, chronic diarrhoea. 
Franklin Arrickson. priv., dis. Dec. 2. '62. Woody Springs. Mo., disab. 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 413 

Wilbert S. Andrews, died Mar. 2o, '63, Gladden Valley, Mo. 

Lorin T. Bush. dis. June 2, '65, wound disabling left arna. 

Benj. F. Barr, died Sept. 30, '63. Memphis, Tenn., chronic diarrhcBa. 

Wm. W. Barr, died Sept. 14, '63, St. Louis, in insane asylum. 

John S. B. Cogo-eshall, dis. Mar. 10, '64, Little Rock. 

Josiah Cameron, died May '28, '62, Osceola, wounds rec'd May 27. 

Simon W. Cooley. died April, '64, West Point, chronic diarrhoea. 

H. J. Clingenfield, des. June 23. '63; joined from desertion Dec. 25. '63. 

H. J. Olingenfield, deserted July 16, '64, Benton Bari-acks. 

Benj. F. Cooley, died April 21, '64, Memphis, intermittent fever. 

T. J. Dean, trans. Sept. 12, '61, pro. in Mo. Eng. Regt. of the West. 

Franklin Drury, died Oct. 15, '63, Little Rock, chronic diarrhoea. 

Porter W. Henry, dis. Nov. 1. '62, Cross Hollows, disability, 

Michael Higgins, died May 28, '62, Osceola, wounds rec'd May 27. 

John J. Hillery, died April 26, '64, Camden, Ark., wounds Apinl 14. 

Kolla Kimball, deserted June 17. '64, Bm-lington. 

Chas. E. Madera, killed Sept. 27, '64, Centralia, murdered by guerrillas. 

Wm. Morgan, dis. July 29, '62, Sedalia. Mo. 

Charles N. Mai'tin, killed Aug. 27, '63, Bayou Metoc, Ark., in battle. 

John Russell, killed Sept. 27, '62, Centralia, murdered by guerrillas. 

A. H. Stutsman, wounded Mar. 25, 62, St. Clair Co., Mo., in face, arm. 

\. H. Stutsman' wounded Aug. 27, '63, Bayou Metoe, left arm amp. 

A. H. Stutsman, dis, Jan. 13, "64, Keokuk, for wounds. 

Joseph O. Scranton. trans. Oct. 20, '61, to Berger's Sharp-Shooters. 

Rufus Underwood, dis. Mar. 24, '63, Springfield, Mo., disability. 

John Upton, died Mar. 16, '64, Little Rock, concussion, 

Elijah G. Wilcox, dis. Jan. 1, '62, Jefferson City, Mo, 

Jacob R. Wolf, died Dec. 22, '61, Jefferson City, pneumonia. 

Pliny Wilcox, died July 19. '63, Bloomfield, Mo., fracture of skull. 

A. W. Wyman. dis. Jan. 26. '64, pro. 2d Lieut. Co. L. 2d Ark. Cav. 

COMPANY D. 

Butler Bird. (I M. Ser., dis. Feb. 14, '63. Forsyth, Mo., disability. 
Henry Sharer, Ser.. dis. Sept. 21. '63, St. Louis, Mo., disability. 
Clarence Stanley Wilson. Ser., dis. Feb. 14, '63, Forsyth, Mo., disability. 
Abraham J. Reeves, Ser.. killed April 4, '64, Elkin's Ford, Ark. 
Joseph T. Garrison, Ser.. dis. Mar. 3, '63, Springfield Mo., disability. 
W. H. Newman, Cor., dis. Mar. 12, '63, Springfield, pro. 1st Ark. Inf. 
John H. McMahon, Cor., dis. May 16, '62, disability. 
David W. Griffith, Cor., dis. Feb. 2, "62, Ottterville, Mo., disability. 
William A, Dickson, (^or., died April 16, '62, Sedalia. Mo., liver com. 
David D. Burnett. Bugler, wounded Mar. 11, '62, Lafayette Co.. Mo. 
Milton C. Carter, Sad., dis. Feb. 14, '63, Forsyth, Mo., disability. 
Aaron Biggs. Sad., dis. May 20, '63, Lake Spring, Mo., disability. 
Henry B. Andyke. priv.. Nov. 8. '61, Tipton, Mo., disability. 
James Harvey Bird, killed May 15, '62, Butler, Mo., by guerrillas. 
James W. Black, dis. Oct. 28. '61, St. Louis, disability. 
Elihu (i. Barker, dis. to accept pro. in 113th U. S. Inf., A. D. 
David H. Brown, dis. Jan. 18, '63, St. Louis, disability, 
(xeorge H. Colville, died Nov. 4. '62, Sedalia, Mo., fever. 
William H. Cros.swait. died July 28. '64, Lewis, Mo., consumption. 
Thomas M. Cleland. dis. Oct. 1, '61, Burlington, disability. 
Everts S. Ewing. dis. Jan. 11. '65, appointed Capt. and C. S. Vols. 
Andrew J. Foust. killed May 15. '62. near Butler, Mo,, by guerrillas. 



414 



HISTOKY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 



Samuel A. Flanders, wounded March 11, '62. Lafayette Co., Mo. 

William A. Flannigan. died Jan. 31, '65, Little Rock. Ark., pneumonia. 

Isaac E. Groom, captured Feb. 23, '63. 

Alvin F. Grier. died Aug. 7, '65, Alexandria, La. 

Peter Hill, wounded Mar. 11. '62, Lafayette Co., Mo. 

Joseph C. Hewitt, died Feb. 21, '65, Memphis, Tenn. 

Geo. W. Holling-sworth, died April 9, "63, Lake Springs, Mo., pneu. 

Tyra R. Hutchins. dis. Aug. 17, '63, disability. 

Francis M. Judkins, dis, Aug. 30, '62, Lexington, Mo,, disability. 

William W. Kerr, died Dec. 17. '62, Ft. Scott, Ark,, chronic diarrhoea. 

DeWitt C. KellJ^ dis. June 8. '64, to accept pro. Hos. Stew. Reg. Army. 

Jacob VV. Kirk, transferred, April 2-1, '65. to First Battalion, V, Co. E. 

Bayliss E. Lake, captured Feb. 23, '63. 

Martin Likes, died Dec. 9, '64, Little Rock, Ark., disease. 

Charles C. Martin, died Dec. 5, '61, Syracuse, Mo., typhus fever. 

William McGee, dis. Mar. 27, '62, Lexington, Mo., disability. 

Myron Maine, dis. Aug. 25, '62, Clinton, Mo., disability. 

Thomas McClean, deserted Aug. 26, '62, Clinton, Mo. 

Valentine Martin, died Mar. 29. '63, Lexington, Mo., chronic diarrhoea. 

William H. Magill, died June 29. '64, Macon City, chronic diarrhoea. 

Thomas H. Magill, killed Sept. 10, '63, Little Rock, Ark., in battle. 

Elias Mark, died Mar. 14. '64. Duvall's Bluff, measles. 

Edw. H. Messinger, died Apr. 6. '64, Elkin's Ford, wounds rec. Apr. 4. 

(George Read, died Nov. 21. '63, Little Rock, Ark., chronic diarrhoea. 

Ferry Roberts, died Aug, 10, '64, Van Buren, Ark. 

Andrew J. Rubles, died Jan. 16, "62. Otterville, Mo., disease. 

Edward Shufeldt, deserted Sept. 20, '62, Clinton, Mo. 

Jes.se Slough, captured Feb, 23, '63. 

Samuel E. Shannon, wounded April 14, '62, Montevallo. 

(i. W. Sharer, capt. Sept. 23, '63 ; died Oct. 28, St. Louis, pneumonia. 

Mathias R. Sharer, captured Feb. 23, '63. 

James H. Stewart, died Aug. 10. '64. Little Rock, Ark. 

Newton Saunders, died Aug. 10, "64. Little Rock, Ark. 

Harvey Thomas, died Sept. 30, '63, Memphis, Tenn. 

Thomas Williams, died Nov. 10, '61, St. Louis, tyiDhoid fever. 

Mathew W. Wilkins, discharged May 28. '62, Butler, Mo., disability. 

William F. Whitmarsh, died Jan. 5, '65, Little Rock, typhoid fever. 

James A. Weaks. Nov. 13, '64, Little Rock, Ark. 

COMPANY E. 

S. B. Marshall, Q. M. S., w'ded Aug. 31. '62, Cedar Creek, Mo., in leg. 
Jos. H. Blazer, Ser., dis. Dec. 31, '62, Prairie Grove. Ark., disability. 
Turner B. Wing. Ser., died Oct. 31, '62, Iowa, chronic diarrhoea. 
(4. W. VanOrsdell. Ser.. w'ded Mar. 29, '64. Arkadelphia, Ark., left eye. 
H. T. Pownall. Cor., died Oct. 9, '63, Little Rock, Ark., chronic diarr. 
J. W. Hardin. Cor., capt. April 1, '64, Arkadelphia: w'ded Mar. 29, '64. 
floseph H. Arnold. Cor., killed Sept. 27. '64. Centralia, Mo., by guer. 
Francis M. Buck, died Jan. 9. '65. Little Rock. Ark., consumption. 
N. L. Ives. Cor., dis. Dec. 31, '62, Prairie Grove, Ark., disability. 
R. Baxter, Bugler, wounded May 15. '62. Little Miami. Mo., face. etc. 
Emery Bennett, priv., dis. Mar. 8, '62, Benton Barracks, Mo., disability. 
Clementine M. Bird, wounded Mar, 18, '62. Lusburg. Mo., arm. etc. 
H. H. Cratty, died Oct. 17, '63, Little Rock, Ark., chronic diarrhoea. 
Carlisle Canterbury, wounded Aug. 27. '63 Bayou Metoe, Ark., leg. 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 415 

Amasa Daily, died May 10, '64, St. Louis, chronic dysentery. 

William A. Davis, dis. Jan. 3, '63, Fayetteville. Ark., disability. 

Mortimer B. Darrell, transf'd Nov. 1, '61, to pro. 18th U. S. Inf. 

William F. Earhart, died Jan. 7, '65, Little Rock, Ark., typhoid fever. 

Samuel W. Grimes, died May 25, '64, Danville, chronic diarrhoea. 

Isaac N. Hall, wounded Aug-. 27, '63, Bayou Metoe. right arm. 

R. M. Heathering-ton, died Nov. 10. '61, Benton Barracks, fever. 

Jacob Hulbert, dis. June 11, '62, Butler, Mo,, disability. 

Wm. H. Johnson, died Dec. 2, '6), Mt. Pleasant, consumption. 

M. M. Meredith, killed May 15, '62, Bates Co., shot in head and breast. 

Jas. Montgomery, died Jan. 8, '65, Little Rock, typhoid fever. 

Aug. G. McCormick, dis. Oct. 25, '64, Benton Barracks, disability. 

W. H. H. Ogan, w'ded Aug, 2, '62, in arm; dis, Oct, 27, '62, wounds. 

Jos. M. Potter, died Feb. 25. '62, Benton Barracks, fever. 

Jacob S. Probasco, dis. Oct. 25, '61, disability. 

Hiram Pickard, trans. April 27, '65, to V. C. R. 

Abraham A. Shippen. died Aug, 24, '62, Clinton, Mo,, fever. 

John Smith, died April 6, '64, Little Mo. River, Ark., wounded Ap. 4. 

John C. Tiffany, died Aug. 24, '62, Little Rock, chronic diarrhoea. 

Oliver H. White, dis. Dec. 31, '62. Prairie Grove, disability. 

Wm. N. White, died Mar. 2, "63. Springfield, Mo., pneumonia. 

John C. Wilson, died Aug, 6. "62, Butler, Mo., fever. 

James S. Wilson, died Nov. 1 . '61, Benton Barracks, measles, diarr. 

Ransom Walker, wounded Aug. 27, '63, Bayou Metoe, slightly. 

(Jyrenus Wai-ren, killed Dec. 6, '62, Cassville, Mo., accidentally. 

Jonathan Wilford, wounded Aug. 27,' 63, Bayou Metoe, in head. 

Harvey Wing, died Oct. 26. "63, Brownsville, wounds rec'd Aug. 27, '62. 

COMPANY F. 

A. J. Beeson, Com. Ser.. dis. May 1, '63, Lake Springs, Ark., disability. 

Wm. Hunter. S., died May 25. "63, Cape Girardeau, wounds rec'd May 15. 

Nelson H. Brawner, Ser., dis. Feb. 10, "62, near Sedalia, Mo., disability. 

Thos. D. Morgan, Cor,, died Jan. 13, '63, Springfield, Mo., pneumonia.. 

Jas. W. Crawford, Cor., dis. Sept. 29, '62, Clinton, Mo., disability. 

R. L. Hoxie. Cor., dis. June 15, '64, Davenport, cadetship West Point. 

Justin G. Patton, Cor., dis. May 3, '63. disability, 

A. Bunker. Cor., w'ded Jan. 8, '62; died Mar. 31, '64, chronic diarrhipa. 

Uberto E. Johnson, Cor., killed Mar. 29, '62, Warrensburg, Mo. 

Thomas Clark. Far., dis. Sept. 10, '62, St. Louis, disability. 

Thos. J. Reed, Teamster, died July 18, '64, Little Rock, chronic diari'. 

Robert Allen, priv.. died Feb. 6, '62, Boonville, Mo., measles. 

Wm. J. Bowen. dis. Mar. 6, '62, near Sedalia, disability. 

Stephen Baker, wounded April 4, '64, Hollow Bottom. Ark., shouldei'. 

Jesse Bunker, dis. May 3. '62, near Sedalia, Mo., disability. 

James Boston, dis. Aug. 17, '63, Ironton, Mo. 

Hiram G. Balcom, died June 19, '64, Little Rock, Ark., measles. 

Wm. H. H. Cunningham, dis. Mai'. 24. '63. Springfield, disability. 

James S. Catlin. died Nov. 12, '63, Little Rock, Ai-k., chronic diarr. 

J. Convey, w'ded Jan. 8. "62, Silver Creek, Mo., mortally: died Jan. 9. 

James B. Doran. transf'd Aug. 15, "63. to V. C. R. 

Frederick A. Druff, dis. Aug. 14, '63, Sedalia. Mo., disability. 

Alexander Doran. dis. Aug. 19, '62, St. Louis, disability. 

Ellery N. Foster, wounded Aug. 2, '65. leg broken by kick of a horse. 

John C. Gerrard. killed Mar. 29. "62. Warrensburg, Mo., in battle. 



416 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

William George, dis. Jan. 5, '64, Cape Girardeau, disability. 

Enoch A. Goodwin, dis. Jan. 5, '64, Cape Girardeau, gun shot. 

Elisha Gray, deserted Feb. 8, '65, Pine Bluffs, Ark. 

Oliver P. Hull, dis. Aug. 1. '62. Sedalia, Mo., disability. 

(leorge Hart, dis. June 30. '62. Osceola, Mo., disability. 

John C. Hunter, dis. June 9, '62, Osceola. Mo., disability. 

Cyrus A. Housell. died July 31, '64. Little Rock, Ark. 

Jas. W. Horn, died Dec. 29, '64. Little Rock, Ark., intermittent fever. 

Francis Howe, died Oct. 3. '64, Duvall's Bluff, Ark. 

Moses F. Johnson, died Aug. 3, '63. Clarendon, Ark., congestive chill. 

Irving C. Jones, dis. Mai*. 6, '63, Mt. Grove, disability. 

John Kay, killed May 29. '62, Osceola, Mo., accidentally shot. 

Joseph W. Latta, dis. April 22. '62, near Sedalia, Mo., disability. 

Allen J. Montgomery, dis. Dec. 4. '61, St. Louis, disability. 

John J. Miller, deserted Feb. 8, '65, Pine Bluff's. Ark. 

William McAllister, died Little Rock, Ark. 

Benjamin F. Parsons, died Jan. 5, '62, Syracuse. Mo., inliam. of lungs. 

William F. Powers, died, Fayetteville, Ark. 

Samuel Sewall, deserted Aug. 11, '61, Burlington. 

Maletius J. Simms, dis. Mar. 24, '63, Springfield, disability. 

Oregon A. Stillings, dis. Mar. 1, '62, near Sedalia, Mo,, disability. 

Emery F. Stratton, dis. June 20, 62, Clinton, Mo., disability. 

Stephen M. Sexton, wounded Jan. 8, '62, Silver Creek, Mo., in hand. 

W. H. Smith, died Dec. 1, '63, Memphis, pneumonia, (rep. dis. Nov. 26.) 

Hiram M. Thurston, died at Little Rock. 

Sam'l Van Norman, died Jan. 5, '62, Otterville, Mo. infiam. of lungs. 

Thos. M. Williamson, died Sept. 2. '63. Brownsville, congestive chills. 

Ira Williams, dis. Mar, 16, '63, Lake Springs, Mo., disability, (w'ded. ) 

COMPANY G. 

Horace Barron, 1st Ser.. dis. June 18, '62. Clinton, Mo., disability. 

Geo. W. Camp, Cor., dis. April 2, '62. Sedalia, Mo., disability. 

Victoi- Gilbei't, Cor., died, April 5, '64. Little Mo., Ark., of wounds. 

Joshua B. Myers, Cor., dis. Jan. 22, '63, Forsyth, Mo., disability. 

Michael O. Sullivan. Far., dis. Dec. 1, '61, Syracuse, Mo., disability. 

J^urdy M. Byi'ely, Wag., wounded April 4, '64. 

Thomas Mulfoi-d, priv., died Oct. 18, '63, Little Rock, typhoid fever. 

Charles A. Adams, dis. April 2, '62. Sedalia, Mo., disability, 

James W. Beecroft. killed July 11, 62, Big Creek Bluff's, Mo., by guer. 

James C. Boston, dis, Feb. 14, '62, Forsyth, Mo., disability. 

Daniel R. Cobb, died Aug. 15, '64, St. Joseph. Mo., chronic diarrhoea. 

Wilson Clark, dis. July 15, '62. Clinton. Mo., disabilty. 

John F. Clark, dis, June 18, '62, Clinton, Mo., disability. 

Marshall D. Carpenter, died Dec. 29, 64, Fayette county. 

Suell Dodge, killed July 11, "62, Big Creek Cliff's, Mo., in action, guer. 

Samuel D. Drake, dis. July 15. '62, Clinton. Mo., disability. 

Francis A. Dory. dis. Nov. 10, '62, St, Louis, 

Horace A. Fray, Jr, , died July 19. '64, Little Rock. 

Henry P. Gregory, dis. Nov., "64, to accept promotion in 4th Ark, Cav. 

Alonzo L. Hurd, dis. Jan. 1, "62, Boonville, Mo., disability. 

Howard Hall, died Dec. 8, '62. Fayetteville, Ark., plevu-isy. 

Benj, Heustis, died Aug. 8. '64. Little Rock, chronic diahrroea. 

James J. Hart, died Avig, 8, '64, St. Joseph, Mo., chronic diarrhoea. 

Wm. D. Johnston, captured April 18, '64, near C'amden, Ark. 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 417 

Daniel R. Hopper, died Mar. 17, '63, Spring- Valley, Mo., lung- fever. 

Aug. J. Kintz, died May 31, '63, Lake Springs, Mo., committed suicide. 

Alex. Larkey. died Feb. 19. '62, Sedalia. Mo., typhoid fever and measles. 

Theodore Lebarre. dis. Jan. 26, '63, Forsyth. Mo., congestive chills. 

Jack Monroe, deserted Nov. 16, 61; killed Dec. 15, '61, robbing a store. 

Earl H. McMillen. dis. Dec. 3, '63, Little Rock, disability. 

Robert G. Needles, deserted Nov. 16, '61. 

Michael O'SuUivan. dis. Oct. l-l, '62, Cassville, Mo., disability. 

Charles H. Porter, died Oct. 16, '63. Little Rock, general debility. 

George W. Phillips, murdered Dec. 24, '65, Austin, Texas. 

Charles Penn, died Sept. 14, '64, Little Rock, chronic diarrhw^a. 

Charles R. Paris, dis. Jan. 29, '64, Little Rock, disability. 

Stephen G. Rice. dis. April 2, '62, Sedalia, Mo., disability. 

John Robinson, dis. April 11, '63, Lake Springs, Mo., disability. 

Otto Rothlander. dis. Dec. 1. '62, disability. 

George P. Ranslow. dis. Nov. 30, '64, Little Rock, disability. 

Samuel A. Rose, dis. Pilot Knob, disability. 

Virgil Race, died Aug. 27, '64. Manchester, Mo., chronic diarrhoea. 

Elon J. Skinner, dis. July 15. '62, Clinton, Mo., dislocation left thigh. 

David W. Scott, wounded July 9, '62. 

Charles M. Simmons, dis. Sept. 21. '61. 

Edwin J. Smith, dis. April 9, '63, Lake Springs, disability. 

James L. Stone, dis. June 3, '62, Sedalia, disability. 

John S. Stevenson, died Nov. 16, '61, St. Louis, typhoid fever. 

John W. Smith, died Oct. 28. '63, Little Rock, general debility. 

Henry C. Skinner, died Mar. 9, '68, Mountain Grove, Mo., cong. brain. 

(xeorge W. Si^ears. died July 27, '64, Little Rock, chronic diarrhoea. 

Lacey N. Simmons, deserted June 21, '63, Arcadia, Mo. 

Frank Taltz. captured May 1, '64. 

James F. Van Emburgh. dis. May 20, '62, Clinton, Mo., disability. 

John Vest, died April 15. '64. Camden, wounds rec'd Api-il 4, Little Mo. 

COMPANY H. 

David K. Webster, Ist Ser., dis. April 7, '65. Memphis, disability. 
Edwin R. Rockwell. Q.M . S.. w'ded in lower jaw; dis. Nov. 1. '62. 
George Sturges. Com. Ser., died Oct. 20, '63, Little Rock, chr. diarr. 
Wm. H. Harris, Ser., died Nov. 5. '62, Keitsville. Mo., typhoid fever. 
David J. Leffler. Ser., dis. July 13, '64, Little Rock, disability. 
Daniel Easley. Jr., Ser., dis. Dec. 2, '62, Springfield, Mo. 
Josephus Hays. Ser., died Nov. 25,' 63, Moni'oe county . 
(reorge W. Hartman, Ser., deserted July 25, '62. 
Allen W. Knight. Ser., died Jan. 5, '65, Little Rock, bloody llux. 
John F. B. Searcey, Ser., dis. Feb. 23, '65, Memphis, disability. 
Aaron G. Chambers, Cor., dis. Feb. 6. '62, Jefferson City, disability. 
James H. McCoy, Cor., dis. June 26. '62, Clinton, Mo., disability. 
Samuel J. Hunt. Far., dis. April 15, '62, Wheeling, Va.. disability. 
Benj. F. Shuman. Far., died Nov. 30, '63, Little Rock, chronic diarr. 
Wm. O. Parmenter. Far., dis. Sept. 1. '62, Clinton. Mo., disability. 
John Dull, Far., died Oct. 13, '63, Little Rock, chronic diarrhcpa. 
Harlow G. Bates. Sad., trans. April, 28, '65, to V. R. C. (2d Batt.) 
D. W. Anderson, priv.. died Nov. 2, '64, Jel?erson Barracks, ch. diarr. 
Washington Bernard, dis. June 13. '64, Little Rock, disability. 
David H. Bristow. died Sept. 26, '63. Memphis. 
Wm. W. Davis, killed Feb. 28. '63. Memphis, by guerrillas. 

53 



418 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

Thomas F. Fauts, dis. Sept. 13, '62, Clinton, Mo., disability. 

Sam'l H. Fullerton. killed Feb. 28, '65, near Memphis, by guerrillas. 

Benj. F. Gates, deserted Sept. 16, '62, Clinton, Mo. 

Albert Gilbert, died Dec. 26, ''62, Prairie Grove, Ark., typhoid lever. 

Allen K. George, died Nov. 7, '63, Georgetown. 

Andi'ew J. Harrison, dis. Sept. 1, '61, Burlington, disability. 

Lafayette Harris, died Jan. 22, '62, Jeft'erson C-ity, typhoid fever. 

Charles H. Holmes, died Nov. 8, '65, Austin, Texas, chronic dirrhoea. 

Ludwig B. Hazard, died Oct. 25, '63, Little Rock, chronic diarrhoea. 

Jos. L. Hall, w^'ded Feb. 9, '65; dis. June 20, '65, on account of wounds. 

Henry Hepshire, died Jan. 25, '65, Little Rock, chronic diarrhoea. 

James Hitchings, died Nov. 22, '64, Jefferson Barracks, chronic diarr. 

Henry E. Johnson, died Dec. 4, '62, Springfield, Mo., fever. 

Cornelius O. Leary, died Jvme 9, '63, RoUa. Mo., pneu. and erysipelas. 

Anderson Lister, died July 21. '64, Little Rock. 

Eurotus Lyman, killed, Feb. 28, '65, near Memphis, by guerrillas. 

Nelson M. Maydole, deserted Nov. 28, '64, Benton Barracks. 

Edwin H. Maydole, died Sept. 11. '63, Brownsville, chronic diarrhoea. 

Reuben G. Merrill, Sr., died Jan. 16, '65, Hazleton. 

David McMains, died Sept. 25, '6b, Hempstead, Texas, palsy. 

Henry Osborn, died Nov. 16, '64, Jefferson City, typhoid. 

Jacob B. Rhoads, dis. Feb. 2, '63, Springfield, disability. 

David W. Scott, died Jan. 6, '64, St. Louis, chronic diarrhoea. 

Martin W. Sullivan, dis. Aug. 29, '65, Jefferson Barracks, disability. 

[srael H. Shepherd, dis. Dec. 8, '62, Springfield, disability; died Dec. 9. 

COMPANY I. 

Benj. W. Searle, 1st Ser., dis. Mar. 13, '63, Springfield, disability. 
Moses Millar, Q. M. S., w'ded Jan. 19, '63, Waco, Texas, accidentally. 
Hiel A. Travers, Com. Ser., dis. May 4, '64, Little Rock, disability. 
Samuel Walker, Ser., dis. Sept. 12. '63, Rolla, Mo., disability. 
Wm. B. Brim, Ser., died Mar. 13, '63, Mountain Grove, disease. 
Hiram Holler, Ser., died Oct. 13, '63, Little Rock, chronic dysentery. 
Tyrus Horton, Ser., dis. Aug. 1, '64, Little Rock, disability. 
Hosea F. Lotspiech, Ser., trans. Aug. 20, '63, to invalid corps. 
Wm. M. Davis, Cor., dis. Nov. 1. '62, Cross Hollows, for disability. 
Ephraim P. Jobe. Cor., died Dec. 17, '63, Little Rock, chronic dys. 
Mathew Hawk, Cor., died Mar. 23, '62, Clinton, Mo., pneumonia. 
Theodore Creamer, Cor., died July 22, '64, Antwineville, Ai k., wounds. 
Edward F. Parrish, Far., dis. May 24, '62, Butler, Mo., disability. 
Ross B. Stevens, Far., dis. May 21, '62, disability. 
David C. Bottorflf, Wag., died Mar. 23, '64, Keokuk, disease. 
T. Y. Creamei'. priv., w'ded May 2, '63, in action; died July 22, 64. 
Milton S. Clark, w'ded May 2, '63, Chalk Bluff, right groin and left leg. 
Thomas Clark, dis. Mar. 24, '62, Butler, Mo., disability. 
Horace C. Crandall, dropped from rolls, supposed to be dead. 
Ephraim J. Davis, wounded Sept. 10, '63, Little Rock, in left arm. 
Henry T. Edwards, deserted Mar. 12, '62, Jefferson City, Mo. 
James I. Hampton, dis. Mar. 12, '62, Butler, Mo., disability. 
Jackson Hendrickson, wounded Sept. 10, '63, Little Rock, in knee. 
Benj. Hollingsworth, wounded, discharged in '63, disability. 
Joseph C. Hari'is, died July 7. '63. Burlington county. Mo., di'opsy. 
Andrew J. Johnson, wounded Jan. 8, '62, Silver Creek, Mo., in thigh. 
Charles H. Johnson, deserted Aug. 6, '62. Ft. Madison. 



I 



HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 419 

James W. Jacobs, trans. Aug. 20, '63. to invalid corps. 

James Kelly, deserted Sept. 5. '62, Clinton, Mo. 

John J. Leach, wounded Mar. 18, '62, near Clinton, Mo., in leg. sev. 

Edward Lake, w'ded Mar. 18, '62, near Clinton. Mo., slightly in side. 

John M. Macklin, killed April 2, '64, Andwineville. Ark., in action. 

Charles H. McFarling, died Sept. 29. '64, Little Rock, typhoid fever. 

James McGuire, deserted Jan. 6, '63, Fayetteville, Ark. 

William N. Monroe, dis. Mar. 1, '63. Finley Creek, Ark., disability. 

Samuel J. McCaulley, dis. Mar. 11, '63, Springfield, disability. 

Andrew J. McBroom. died Sept. 20. '64, Little Rock, Ark. 

John W. Madison, trans. May 11, '63, to 8th Mo. Cav. as Hos. Stew. 

Wilber N. Ping. dis. Mar. 14, '63, Mt. Grove, Mo., disability. 

Zephaniah Powell, died Sept. 21, '63. Little Rock, chronic diarrhoea. 

James H. Phelps, dis. '64, Little Rock, Ark. 

Dexter Stephens, killed May 26, '62, Butler, Mo., shot by jayhawkers. 

William J. Snook, died July 14, '64, Little Rock, Ark., of disease. 

Lewis Smith, died June 2q. '64, Floris. 

Cornelius Thompson, w'ded Jan. 8, '62, Silver Creek. Mo., left shoul. 

Hiram M. Thurston, died July 27. '64. Little Rock, Ark. 

Willis VanWinkle, died June 1, '64, Little Rock, Ark. 

Henry T. Wilson, deserted Oct. 27, '62, Cross Hollows, Ark. 

Willicim W. Williams, dis, Nov. 17. "63. Little Rock, Ark., disability. 

COMPANY K. 

Oscar Moore. Com. Ser., died Nov. 18, '65, Austin, Tex., chronic diarr. 

J. A. I^yon. Ser.. w'ded April 14. '62 ; dis. June 10, '62, crip, for life. 

Frank Pease, Ser. dis. Jan. 10. '64, to accept pro. as 1st Lt. 3d Ark. Cav. 

Seth Martin. Cor., dis. Oct. 28, '61, disability. 

Wm. M. Kelly. Cor., died Sept. 4. '64, stmr. Burlington, int. fever. 

Wm. H. Tinkham. Cor., died Sept. 29, '63, Little Rock, Ark. int. fever. 

Solomon (lOodrich. Cor., trans. Sej^t. 1, '61, to Eng. Reg. of the West. 

Charles Carrier. Bugler, died Aug. 11, '62, Clinton. Mo., typhoid fever. 

Melvin E. Mann. Far., dis. Feb. 1, '62, disability. 

James Chambers, Far., capt. Dec. 7, '62, Prairie Grove, Ark. 

John Israel, Wag., dis. Sept. 16, '62, general disablity. 

Allison Adams, Team., died Nov. 18, '63, Little Rock. Ark., dy.sentery. 

John F. Arnold, priv.. dis. Mar. 17, '63, Springfield, disability. 

I.,oyal E. Ballou, captured Dec. 7, '62. 

William P. Bowers, dis. June 15, '64. pro. to Asst. Sur. 8th Mo. Cav. 

Andris Brant, trans. Sept. 1, '61, to Eng. Reg. of the West. 

Albert Burgis, killed Nov. 9, '65, Austin, Texas, accidentally. 

Joseph Benedict, dis. Dec. 1, "65, disability. 

Abner J. Case. dis. Oct. 30, '64, disability. 

Oscar Crumb, killed April 14, '62, Montevallo, Mo., in battle. 

Henry Clark, dis. Jan. 10. '62, disability. 

Ebenezer E. ('lark, trans. Feb. 1. '62. to gunboat service. 

Charles G. Carpenter, killed Sept. 27. '64, Centralia, Mo., by guer. 

George W. D. Eastman, died April 10, '64, Memphis. Tenn. 

George W. Ekle, died Sept. 28, '64, Little Rock, Ark., typhoid malaria 

Nathan G. Filley, dis. Mar. 20, '65. Little Rock, Ark., disability. 

John (xaydas. w'ded April 2, '64, Antoine, Ark.; dis. June 15. '64. 

Archibald Green, killed Aug. 7. "64. St. Joseph, Mo., personal affray 

Robert E. Granger, killed Aug. 27. '63. Bayou Metoe. 

William H. H. fliftord. died Jan. 5. '65. Little Rock, typhoid fever. 



4:'-20 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA CAVALRY. 

Edward Hyde, captured Dec. 8, '63. 

John W. Holmes, died July 10, '64, Little Rock, chronic diarrhoea. 

David P. Jennings, dis. Mar. 17, '65, Davenport, disability. 

(ieorge M. Joslyn, died July 17, '64. Little Rock, typhoid fever. 

William M. Kelly, died 8ept. 4. '64, stmr. Burlington, int. fever. 

Archibald McArthur, dis. Sept. 15, '61, disablity. 

Oscar Powers, died Sept. 27, '63. Little Rock, chronic diarrhoea. 

John S. Post, dis. Mar. 12. ''63, Springfield, physical disability. 

Jonathan R. Porter, dis. Mar. 28, '65, Keokuk, disability. 

Elias Reynolds, died Oct. 30, '65, Hempstead, Texas, int. fever. 

Samuel Stephenson, dis. Sept. 5, '61, disability. 

Hans E. Schoolrund. died Aug. 10. '65, New Orleans, typhoid fever. 

Thomas J. Tupper. w'ded April 14. '62, Montevallo ; dis. Feb. 24. 'eS. 

Orville B. Tiffany, died Nov. 14, '65, Austin, Texas, chronic diarr. 

James Weed, died Jan. 27, '63, Forsyth, Mo., typhoid fever. 

James Whitford. killed, April 14, '62, Montevalllo, Mo., in battle. 

Francis Watson, trans. Feb. 1. '63, to gunboat service. 

Joseph Warner, died Oct. 23. '63, Little Rock, chronic diarrhoea. 

Alfred Wells, dis. Feb. 20, '63, disability. 

COMPANY L. 

H. B. Quick, 1st Ser. , dis. Mar. 4, '62, Benton Barracks, Mo., disability. 

Daniel W. Mason, Ser., dis. Dec. 16, '63, pro. to Adj. 3d Ark. Cav. 

Christian F. Beyer, Cor., trans. Aug. 15, '63, to invalid corps. 

Abram Waldron, Cor., died Feb. 3, '64, Little Rock, Ark. 

Frederick Hazelton, Cor., dis. Dec. 7, '67. St. Louis, disability. 

William C. Bell, Cor., dis. Feb. 7, '62, St. Louis, disability. 

Milton Lillie. Cor., dis. July 23: "64, Davenport, disability. 

Ernest Hall, Cor., dis. Aug\ 11. '62, Butler, Mo., on account of wounds. 

Wm. McGinley. Cor., capt. Sept. 20. '62; dis. Nov. 16. "62. St. Louis. 

(ieorge Harrington, Cor., dis. April 7, '65, Memphis, Tenn., disability. 

John B. P. Dodd, Cor., captured April 27, '64. 

Reuben Bunce, Far., dis. Nov. 15, '61, Benton Barracks, disability. 

(ieorge L. Richardson, Far., capt. April 20. "64. Camden, Ark. 

William Bowman, Far., dis. Nov. 15, '61, Benton Barracks, disability. 

Herman Bray. Far., dis. Feb. 7. '62, Benton Barracks, disability. 

Martin Lorenzo, Far., died Nov. 11, '62, James River. Mo. 

Albert C. Alford. priv., killed Aug. 2, '62, Clear Creek, Mo., in skir. 

Amos Andrews, w'ded and capt. Prairie d'Anne ; died Aug. 2, '64. 

Caleb C. Botwood. killed Aug. 2, '62, Clear Creek, Mo., in skirmish. 

William J. Barnard, dis. Dec. 7, '61. disability. 

Milton R. Brown, dis. Dec. 7, '61. 

Franklin Burnett, deserted July 20, '63, Bloomtield, Mo. 

James H. Bruce, deserted Dec. 18. '64, St. Louis. Mo. 

Alexander Barnes, trans. Aug. 23, '63, to invalid corps. 

James A. Cisco, died Nov. 1, '63, Little Rock, chronic diarrhoea. 

Michael J. Driscoll, killed Aug. 2, '62, Clear Creek, Mo. , in skirmish. 

(ieorge H. Davis, died July 5, '64. Benton Barracks, congestive chills. 

Andrew Doosler, deserted June 18, '64, Davenport, while on furlough. 

James Fitzpatrick. dis. Mar. 11, '63. Mt. Grove. Mo., disability. 

Sylvester Hall, deserted June 20. '62. Lexington, Mo. 

(ieorge Harrington, dis. April 7. '65, Memphis. Tenn. 

Wm. H. Hendebourck, dis. June 30. '62, for alienage. ^ 

Daniel H. Hughes, dis. May 16, '65, Memphis, disability. 



HISTORY OF FreST IOWA CAVALRY. 421 

Benj. H. Hall, captured April o. "64, while absent without leave. 

Martin V. Jourdan, dis. Mar. 14. '63. Spring-field, disability. 

Otto Anton Lauei-, dis. Mar. 4. '63, Mt. Grove, Mo. 

Stephen Lawyer, died Nov. 14, '63, Little Rock, chronic diarrhoea. 

George Lewis, dis. June 10. '62, Clinton, Mo., disability. 

Warren Y. Merchant, dis. July 31, '6"2, St. Louis, disability. 

Charles McMeyer, dis. Nov. 5, '61, St. Louis, disability. 

Edg-ar P. Mills, captured April 29. '64. 

Hardin W. Nolin, dis. Nov. 25, '61, Benton Barracks, disability. 

James Noble, died Dec. 26, ''63, Little Rock, chronic diarrhoea. 

Stephen H. Pierce, dis. Nov. 28, '63, disability. 

John L. Quick, dis. Feb. 7, '62, Benton Barracks, disability. 

(Jeorge S. Rogers, captured April 3, '64, while absent without leave. 

Alanson C. Robinson, deserted Jan. 4, '62, Benton Barracks, 

Adolph Sommers, died Feb. 16, '62, St. Louis. 

James Sprague, dis. Feb. 17, '63, Benton Barracks, disability. 

Charles P. Stewart, died Feb. 9, '63, Springfield, chronic diarrhoea. 

Clark J. Sherwood, dis. Mar. 4, '62, Benton Barracks, disability. 

Ira C. Scott, died Sept. 1, '65, Hempstead. Texas, chronic diarrhoea. 

John Shuster, died Sept. 28, '63, Little Rock, chronic diarrhoea. 

Samuel S. Sherman, deserted June 4, '62. 

Levi Shultz, deserted Sept. 30, '62, Springfield, Mo. 

Ernst Seidel. died Aug. 4, '64, Little Rock, intermittent fever. 

Samuel Tate. dis. Mar. 12, '63, Springfield, Mo. 

Samuel Taylor, deserted July 20, '63, Springfield, Mo. 

George Venn, died April 18, '64, Memphis, chronic dysentery. 

Peter Walter, killed Sept. 15, '64, Mexico, Mo. 

John W. Wall, dis. Nov. 25. '61, Benton Barracks, disability. 

N. W. Wellaver, w'ded Aug. 27, '63, Little Rock: dis. Oct. 14. prom. 

James A. Walton, died June 20, '64, Little Rock, typhoid fever. 

COMPANY M. 

Charles E. Cook. Ser., deserted Oct. 10, 61. 

Dan'l M. Shureman, Ser.. died Nov. 18, '62, Springfield, typhoid fever. 

Edward Ware, Ser., wounded Aug. 2, '62, Clear Creek, Mo. 

Peter Barr, Cor., dis. June 24, '62, Clinton, Mo., disability. 

Wm. O. Gulich, Cor., w'ded Aug. 27, '63, leg amp.: died Sept. 4. '63. 

Josiah (iorham, Cor., drowned Aug. 27. '63, Helena, insane, 

John M. Alcorn, Cor., dis. Nov. 1, '65, disability. 

Daniel Dean, Cor., dis. Oct. 24, '61, Benton Barracks, disability. 

Thomas E. Francis, Bugler, wounded Aug. 2. "62. Clear Creek, in head. 

Sam'l B. Cory, Sad., dis. Mar. 17. '62, Sedalia. disability. 

Joseph Moody, Wag., dis. Oct. 17. '63, Benton Barracks, disability. 

Henry Bennett, private, deserted Mar. 3. '63. 

Charles Barrows, dis. Sept. 21. "61. Burlington, disability. 

DeWitt C. Bronson, trans. June 30, '65. to V. R. C. 

P. H. Burke, wounded in hip April. '64: deserted July 4, '6,'k 

Jerome L. Church, died Feb. 4. "62, Benton Barracks, typhoid fever. 

Wm. H. Davidson, dis. July 24. '62. disability. 

James M. Decker, wounded Aug. 27. '63, Bayou Metoe, Ark., in hip. 

Lander Follet, died Feb. 20, '64, Little Creek, Ark., measles. 

Thomas George, dis. Feb. 12, '63, Forsyth, Mo., disability. 

Paschal Gardner, dis. Nov. 9. '65, dishonorably for desertion. 

Thomas Gammill. deserted Dec. 20. '64. Benton Barracks. Mo. 



422 HISTORY OF FIRST IOWA (CAVALRY. 

Charles Hibber. wounded Aug. '2, '62. Clear Creek, Mo. 
Hiram Hill. dis. April 26, '63, Springfield. Mo., disability. 
Reuben Hubbell, died Jan. 15, '65, Little Rock, typhoid pneumonia- 
John T. Husband, deserted Oct. 18, '62. 

Martin T. Hesler, died Dec. 16, '62, Springfield, chronic diarr. 
Eugene C Hannibal, died July 10, "64, Little Rock, typhoid fever, 
(jeorge M. Joslyn, died July 12. '64, Little Rock, typhoid fever. 
Sylvester K. Lake. dis. April 7, '62, Benton Barracks, disability. 
Wm. H. Mathews, dis. Feb. 24, '63, disability. 
John McDonald, deserted Dec. 21, 61. 

James McCormick. deserted June 1, "63. Lake Springs, Mo. 
Marshall McKnight. trans. Nov. 4. '61, to Berger's Sharpshooters. 
Richard A. Miner, deserted Feb. 15, '63, Forsyth, Mo. 
(reorge A. Nelson, died Nov. 24, '62, Springfield, chronic- diarrhcpa. 
(Jharles J. Osgood, dis. Dec. 21, '62, Madison, Wis, 
Washington H, Rigby, wounded Aug. 2. "62, Clear Creek, Mo. 
Elisha A. Roland, killed Aug. 2. '62, Clear Creek, Mo., in battle. 
James F. Randolph, trans. Sept. 30. '63, to invalid corps, 
Henry Roberts, deserted Jan, 11, "62. 
Richard Smith, dis. July , '62. disability. 
Jacob Stephenson, died Nov. 25, '62, Springfield, Mo. 
Fritz Thode, died Dec. 19, '62, Prairie Grove. Ark., dysentery. 
John Tietzgens, died Sept. 30. '63, Keokuk, erysipelas. 
William H. Todd, wounded Aug. 2, '62. 
John S. Vosburg, wounded by guerrillas. 
I^ewis Warren, died Aug. 13, '64, chronic diarrhoea. 
Christian W, Wilson, w'ded Oct. 29. '62 ; dis. Feb. 2. '63. 

DNASSIGNED KECRUITS. 
Aaron Babcock, priv,, died Jan. 1, '63, St, Louis, pneu?iionia. 
William Grates, dis, Dec. «, '62. disability. 
Henry Hotinger, died April 13, '64. Helena, Ark., measles. 
John A. McClelland, died Nov. 18. '62, St. Louis, typhoid fever. 
Jacob Showalter. died June 7, '64, Little Rock, typhoid fever. 
Lewie Thompson, died June 7. '64, Little Rock, intermittent fever. 



I 



INDEX. 

Page. 

Acknowledgment 9 

Advance on Little Rock 127 

Adventures of Dismounted Members 159 

Additional Announcement 383 

Affidavit Surg-eon Lothrop 276 

Affidavits and Statements of Custer's Cruelty 280- 98 

Alexandria— Execution of Soldiers 223 

Announcement 3 

Assa.ssination of Lincoln 210 

Assignment to Special Duty 208 

Battle of Blackwater 42 

Battle of Silver Creek -48 

Battle of Montevallo 63 

Battle of Warsaw ')5 

Battle of Marais des Cygnes 69 

Battle of Lotspeach Farm 70 

Battle of Big Creek Cliffs 70 

Battle of Clear Creek 73 

Battle of Lone Jack 75 

Battle of Newtonia 81 

Battle of Cross Hollows 84 

Battle of McGuire's Ford 85 

Battle of Prairie Grove 89 

Battle of Dripping Springs 96 

Battle of VanBuren 96 

Battle of Yellville 98 



II INDEX. 

Page. 

Battle of Kingston 99 

Battle of Midnight Attack 108 

Battle of Jackson. 108 

Battle of Spring Hill 109 

Battle of Chalk Bluffs 110 

Battle of Bloomfield " 110 

Battle of St. Francis River 110 

Battle of Salem Ill 

Battle of Bayou Metoe 126 

Battle of Cape Girardeau Ill 

Battle of Brownsville 126 

Battle of Little Rock 129 

Battle of Princeton 142 

Battle of Arkadelphia 149 

Battle of Spoonville 149 

Battle of Antoine ^ 149 

Battle of Elkins' Ford 161 

Battle of Prairie d'Anne 166 

Battle of Camden 187 

Battle of Moro Creek 163 

Battle of Jenkins' Ferry 166 

Battle of Persia Hills 187 

Battle of Centralia 188 

Price's Raid 194 

Battle of Osage River 196 

Battle of California 196 

Battle of Dardanelles 206 

Battle of Big Hatchie 209 

Battle of Moro River Bottom 206 

• ' Bandbox Battalion " 61 

Benton Barracks 36 

Burlington 28 

(Capture of Little Rock 129 

Camden Expedition 148 



INDEX. Ill 

Page. 

(Capture of Marmaduke 199 

('apture of Camden 157 

Changes in Medical Staff 119 

Changes of Personal History of the Regiment 202 

("lose and Personal History of 1863 143 

Copies of General Sterling Price's Orders 194 

(^ollinsville 210 

(nose of 1865, Personal History, etc 242 

(,'olonel McQueen's Speech 232 

Custer's Cruelty 277 

Departure from Little Rock 201 

Dismounted Battalion 148 

Detached Service 303 

Evacuation of Camden 166 

Expedition to Henry, Bates and St. Clair Counties. Mo 56 

Expedition to Oregon County 105 

Expedition under Brigadier General Vandever. 107 

Fall of Richmond 213 

Furlough Surgeon Lothrop 121 

Furlough, Veteran 163 

First Prisoner of the Campaign 1 49 

(xeneral Preface 5 

(leneral Marmaduke ' • Taken In '" . 151 

Major General G. A. Custer Assumes C'ommand 217 

(ieneral Custer's Letter 230 

(4overnor Stone's Letter 232 

General S. D. Sturgis in Command 241 

(xeneral Custer's Statement 262 

(ieneral Custer's Statement , 266-274 

(General Forsyth's Endorsement 275 

(ieneral Custer and Staff Ordered Mustered Out 296 

(ieneral Custer Leaves Between Two Days 296 

General Thompson's Staff 297 

(ieneral Marmaduke's Report. 169 



IV INDEX. 

Page. 

Horace C. Cure Whipped. 231 

Horse Race 240 

Introduction to ■ ■ Pup Tents '\ 122 

Inspection of Regiment by U. S. A. Officers 229 

Jack Rutter Beaten. 140 

Letter of Lieutenant Chas. W. W. Dow 112 

Letter of Captain Rowland. Eighteenth Iowa Infantry. 179 

Lieutenant Colonel McQueen's Reply 266-274 

Leave Austin, Texas. 298 

March to Springfield, Mo. 79 

March to Lake Springs 101 

Mai-ch to St. Louis 200 

Massacre of Centralia 188 

March to Pine Bluffs 205 

March to Texas 227 

March for Austin. Texas 239 

Midnight Attack 108 

New Organization of Regiment 184 

Necrology 314-316 

No Quinine 225 

Number of Enlistments 299 

Organizations of Companies 18 

(Organization of Corps Field Hospitals 155 

Operations of Veteran Portion Regiment. 185 

Ordered to Memphis. Tenn. 207 

Ordered to Texas 216 

Organization of Board of Surgeons 224 

Obnoxious Orders Revoked 237-238 

Ordered to Report to General Rosecrans as Body Guard 197 

Orders — General — General J. W. Davidson 136 

General (i. A. ( Ulster . 218 

No. 14 225 

Special — General G. A. t'uster 218 

No. 35 .224 



INDEX. V 

Page.. 

Orders — Special — No. 37 226 

No. 20 294 

(Jomplimentary — General J. W. Davidson.. 123 

(ieneral E. A. Carr. . 162 

Congratulatory — General Fred. Steele. . . 168 

Order Lieutenant Colonel Caldwell 186 

Farewell Order (General J. W. Davidson 147 

Whippin}^ Order . . , 218 

Personal Sketches. 317-355 

Princeton 1 42 

Purchase of Medicine. 237-238 

Promotions 310-313 

Rations — -Hog Jowls 228 

Reception of (xovernor .Soliman 119 

Resolutions Iowa State Legislature 233-236 

Report of Lieutenant Colonel McQueen 243-262 

Reply to Marmaduke's Report 177 

Report of Major (General Steele 129 

Report of (jeneral J. W. Davidson 134 

Report of Lieutenant Craig 136 

Report of Lieutenant Colonel Drake 1,52 

Reminiscences of Army Life. . 256-284 

Roster of Officers of Regiment 299 

Roster. 385 

Saber Presentation to (xen. J. W. Davidson 139 

Sickness in Regiment 140 

Steamer Starlight 226 

Sold Race . _ 238 

Veteran Furlough. 183 

1861-62 13 

1863 97 

1864 146 

1865 203 

1866 294 



NAMES OF FOR IRA ITS. 



The portraits having been sliipped direct from ("hicaj^o to ( 'edar 
Rapidb for binding', it was impossible to page them. They will be 
found in order of company as near as possible. 

Very truly. Virgin IK J^otiikoi'. 



Colonel Fitz Henry Warren. 

Colonel Daniel Anderson. 

Colonel J. W. Caldwell. 

Colonel William Thompson. 

Major Levi Chase. 

Major J. D. Jenks, 

Surgeon M. B. Cochran. 

Surgeon Charles Henry Lothi-op. 

Virginie Lothrop, 

Assistant Surgeon J. A. J^add, 

Assistant Surgeon Asa Morgan. 

Adjutant David A. Kerr. 

Lieut. H. S. Heberling. Pres. Ass'n. 

E. J. Babcock, first Sec. Ass'n. 

Phil. H. Francis, Sec. Ass'n. 

Orrin B. Crane. 

(4eorge K. Miller, 

Sergeant Walter S. (iray. 

('a])tain J. T. Foster. 

Sergeant B. S. Woodward. 

Captain W. E. Leffingwell. 

l.,ieutenant H. P. Shiffer. 

Isaac Rhodes. 

M. W. Chatfield, 

Lieut. William Preseott Allen. 

R. M. Swan. 

Paul Hendricks. 

D. D. Burnett, 

Clement M. Bird, 



(.lieutenant Chas. W. W. Dow. 

Lieutenant Clinton M. Turner. 

Major Max Klein, 

Thomas S. Heller, 

S. W. Trenchard, 

J. W. Krapfel. 

Ed. J. Brown. 

Benj. F. Skinner. 

Lieutenant Colonel J. D. Thompaon. 

( 'ai)tain Robert L. P'reeman. 

Captain A. W. Hosford. 

Lieutenant Ernest A. Klingenberg, 

Walter C. Handley. 

Lieutenant Samuel T. Craig. 

Francis Burkhall. 

('aptain Thomas Henry Barnes. 

Captain James M. Russell. 

Lieutenant Walter W. Carpenter. 

Lieutenant Chas. DuBois. 

Lieutenant A. L. Freeman, 

Sergeant John Fitzsimmons. 

Sergeant Horace J. LeouHrd. 

Joab Somers, 

Charles A. Chase, 

Lieutenant James M. Simeral. 

Herbert L. Mills. 

i.,ewis E. Dean, 

Billy. 

Benton Bitner. 



fl 



Si:l^f/s 



